My Aunt Wanted Custody of My Brother—But I Knew Her True Motives

still believed Mommy was just on a long trip.

To make everything even more surreal, the funeral fell on my birthday.

People said, “Happy 18th,” as if it meant something.

It didn’t.

I didn’t want cake. I didn’t want gifts. All I wanted was for Max to stop asking, “When’s Mommy coming back?”

We were still dressed in black when I knelt beside the grave and continue reading …