Home Entertainment Game Technology Advertisement Part 2: For eight years, my parents made me leave the house every time my brother brought his fiance over; Mom said, “She comes from a good family, don’t embarrass us”; Dad added, “Just disappear for the weekend”; I did; then one weekend, I never came back; it took them four years to find out where I went.

I recognized Ruth's handwriting immediately.

*My beautiful girl,*

*If you're reading this, you've finally learned that your parents told people you were dead.*

I covered my mouth.

*I wanted to tell you everything while I was alive.*

*But I was afraid the truth would frighten you back into the silence you worked so hard to escape.*

I sat on Ruth's bed.

And began to cry.

***

Ruth's letter explained that she first became suspicious after my hospitalization.

My father told her I was recovering from a nervous breakdown.

He insisted I needed quiet.

No visitors.

No telephone calls.

No contact with anyone who might upset me.

At first, she believed him.

Then she saw the memorial program.

Someone had left it at church.

It contained my photograph.

My name.

And a request for donations in my memory.

Ruth went straight to my parents' house.

Mitch refused to let her inside.

He told her she'd misunderstood.