Evangeline

It’s been minutes and it has been silent. The silence echoes so loudly in my mind that I can hear my own thoughts, I can hear my fear gloating that it’s winning.

It’s not a lie. My fear is winning. My skin is shivering, heart pounding so roughly, the kind of roughness I never knew existed.

I almost speak first, break the silence, then my dad bursts out laughing and I have no choice but to bite down on my tongue.

 “Good one, Evie.” He chuckles amusingly. “You almost ...