I checked my hearing aids and put them on.
“Dad knew you were afraid of raising me. But you promised him we’d be a family.”
“You watched me cry.”
“We were a family.”
“Then why did you spend four years making me feel like I didn’t belong?”
She looked away.
“You can’t understand what I gave up.”
“I never asked you to give up your life. I just wanted to have one of my own.”
“We were a family.”
I turned to Aunt Ria.
“Is your offer still open?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’d like to come with you.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Of course.”
“Zoe, you can’t leave because you’re angry.”
“I’m not leaving because I’m angry. I’m leaving because I finally know I don’t have to stay.”
“You’ll come back when things get hard.”
“Maybe they will.”
I picked up Dad’s letter.
