Kendall

A week later, as with every Monday, it’s barely 5:00, and I’m exhausted. I sit on the sofa, showered and dressed in clean clothes, preparing myself for the weekly meal and conversation with the parents. Every creaky board and faint footstep outside my door levels up my nerves. Although it’s much the same each week, the interactions still upset me.

I walk to the door at the sound of two sets of footsteps growing closer. Intaking a deep breath, I open the door before ...