My Nephew Showed Up Freezing at 5 AM Saying They Left Him Until My Brother Accused Me of Taking Him

kicked the door shut behind us, and got him onto the couch. His wet shoes left dark prints on the carpet. The apartment smelled of stale coffee and cold fabric and the lavender detergent of the quilt I yanked off my bed one-handed and wrapped around his shoulders.

“Noah,” I said, keeping my voice in the register I used on calls when the person on the continue reading …