When My Child Mentioned “Aunt Phoebe,” Everything Fell Apart

if I’d switched the laundry before it turned into that sour, forgotten smell.

“I had so much fun at Aunt Phoebe’s,” Noah said, swinging his legs under the table like the world was perfectly normal.

I froze with the milk carton half-tilted, a white crescent climbing the rim and threatening to spill.

“Aunt… who?” I asked, and forced a laugh that didn’t continue reading …