On thanksgiving, my uncle blocked the door and said, “you’re not family anymore — leave,” i saw my mom laughing behind him, handing my seat to my sister’s boyfriend; i just nodded, got back in my car… and sent the message i’d been saving for months; five minutes later, half the table stood up — and walked out.

One by one, they left.

I couldn’t hear the words being shouted inside, but I could guess.

The illusion was cracking.

And that was just the beginning.

Maya was the first to call. I saw her name flash across my screen before I even pulled out of my spot. I picked up, heart pounding, not because I was nervous, but because I hadn’t expected it to unravel this fast.

“Oliver,” she snapped, not even waiting for me to speak. “What did you just do?”

I paused. “You read it.”

“Of course I read it. So did everyone else. Uncle Ron’s face turned purple. Your mom tried to play dumb. And Ava just stood there frozen like she didn’t know what planet she was on.”

I could hear the wind rushing past her phone. She was walking fast, maybe pacing, maybe on her way to her car.