On Our 21st Birthday, We Received a Mysterious Box—We Gasped When We Saw What Was Inside

would reply, grinning.

I usually laughed first. Leila usually threw a pillow.

That was how most of our childhood sounded before everything changed. Laughter. Arguing. Someone running down the hallway.

Mom yelling that if one more crayon ended up on the wall, she was going to lose her mind. Dad, back when he was still around more often than not, pretending continue reading …