(Karen’s POV, Present Tense)

I used to think shame was a private thing, something you felt alone, behind closed doors.

But now I know shame can be public. It can trend. It can spread like fire until the whole world is watching you burn.

By morning, I can’t even walk into the kitchen without seeing my face on TV. Talk shows are debating me. Bloggers are laughing at me. Even people I thought were my friends are sharing memes of the wedding disaster.

The caption under one picture stabs the ...