I paid for my parents to fly out and see me for the first time in four years. They stayed at my sister’s house 30 minutes away. I set the table every night for a week. They never came. On their last day, Mom texted: “Maybe next time, sweetie!” I was the bank. Not the daughter. So I shut it down.

hours.”

“I know, honey! It’s just been so busy. Maybe you can come to Hannah’s tomorrow morning before we head to the airport?”

The old Sophia would have said yes. She would have taken the crumbs and called it a feast. But the new Sophia—the architect—saw the flaw in the structure.

“Why didn’t you stay with me?” I asked.

“Oh, Sophia, don’t start,” she continue reading …