I Waited Until Rehearsal Dinner

says it.

How a person says the name of a fire.

When the call ended, I put my phone face down on the table and stood.

Dad looked wrecked. Mom looked older. Ben just looked tired, deeply, from the inside.

Emily’s mascara had started to break at the corners. She pointed at me with one shaking finger.

“You ruined my life.”

I picked up my bag.

“No,” I said. “I continue reading …