of fatherly duty. My maternal grandmother, Rose, had insisted. She' d told him I could be useful, a live-in babysitter and maid for Matthe

st feet apart, their lawyers whispering in their ears. They fought viciously, not for me, but for Matth

ying hair, finally looked at me. It was

have a preference

looked at the empty space where my mother should ha

I asked the judg

ictory he didn' t want. The moment we left the cou

rove me to a bus station. He pulled over to the c

w crumpled bil

t call me unless it' s an emergency.

drive and pulled away, leaving me standing on

ange and purple. The cold seeped into my bones. Every car that

. I was shivering, my teeth chattering. Just as I was about to give up, to c

' t my

my Gran

anything, just wrapped me in a hug that smelled like cinnamon and soap. She

all, humble house in a dif

rk," she said, her voice gentl

ma Rose raised me. She used her meager social security checks and the money she made collec

es, and a pile of returned, unsent letters to my mother. The illusion shattered, but in its place, a fierc