At 2 P.M., I Walked Into My Parents’ Backyard Expecting To Pick Up My 8-

them?”

I thought of Amelia kneeling in that empty pool, sweat dripping from her nose, whispering that she almost finished scrubbing.

“No,” I said, my voice steady. “I regret trusting them in the first place.”

A soft rustling sound broke through the thick silence.

“Mom.”

Amelia’s voice was faint, fuzzy around the edges like she was talking in her sleep. continue reading …