My Father Texted Me at 2:43 A.M. to Say I Was Dead to Him

from birthday cards. The handwriting from the note he taped to the fridge when I made the honor roll in sixth grade. Proud of you kid.

I took it upstairs. I did not open it for an hour.

When I did, it said:

Valerie. Call me. We need to fix this. Whatever I said I take it back. Your mother is hysterical. Your sister is hysterical. Your brother is going continue reading …