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

modern, unfamiliar. The lighting too soft, too warm. In the background, a window framed a view of downtown buildings and strings of headlights—nothing like our quiet subdivision with its identical mailboxes and the same three dogs that barked in unison every afternoon.

I stared so hard my eyes burned.

The sound of running water upstairs reminded me continue reading …