In the hospital room, I watched in horror as my sister yanked out her oxygen tube and

records were reviewed. Mara’s followers vanished when the hospital footage became evidence. My parents sold their condo to pay lawyers who could not save them.

Three months later, I stood on the porch of Grandma’s house with my daughter sleeping against my chest.

I named her Elena, after the woman who had protected me even after death.

The garden was continue reading …