My Dad’s 60th Birthday Invitation Said “dress Properly Or Don’t Come.”

was a breath, a thing I didn’t even know I was thinking until it was out.

She took a clumsy step forward. Her name tag read ‘Sarah’.

Sarah. My mother.

She reached a trembling hand toward my face, then drew it back, as if she was afraid I might disappear.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, silent and steady.

Daniel, the governor, my father, put a hand on my continue reading …