My uncle got out of prison, and the whole family shut the door on him—except for my mom, who hugged him as if someone else were to blame.

whisper directed only at me.

Time twisted and turned. Three years slipped by like sand through my fingers. I lost track of the days when my dad’s workshop closed. The old man who had once been the anchor in our family was now adrift, and the car followed suit, sold off to pay debts that piled up like snowdrifts against our front door. I dropped out continue reading …