I Gave Away the Birthday Chocolates, Then the Screaming Started

my own life had been built around shrinking so other people could take up space.

We built our own traditions. Takeout Chinese on Christmas Eve. Pancakes for dinner once a month. Movies on New Year’s. Small rituals that taught both of us that home could be quiet without being dangerous.

Brandon grew. Slowly, then all at once. By high school he towered continue reading …