Clarisa," had been a constant refrain throughout our childhood. I believed him. I believed

disappeared into the living room, a hushed conversation with my mother following. I couldn't hear their words

lked straight to Alex's small, crumbling house, the same one where Alex

en. "This is for your law school tuition, Alex," my father said, his voice firm but ki

money, his eyes w

hard. Make something of yourself. That's

ing the money like a sacred relic. "Mr. Owen," he choked out,

e one thing." He looked Alex directly in the eye, his expression unwavering. "Promi

ded furiously. "I promis

that felt like the culmination of a lifelong fairy tale. He rose through the ranks of a prominent law firm

man on earth. Before he left for his new, demanding job in the big city, he' d tie

kling, "and who I'm coming home to." He'd pull me close, his vo

f in our forever. My friends looked at me with envy, "

em. I truly, deep