I Bought My Dream House and Invited My Family but No One Showed Up and Later My Dad Sent a Message

were burning down. The mashed potatoes would be losing their heat. The sunflowers in the centerpiece had developed the slight droop of flowers that have been in a vase too long. I stood at the window and looked at the empty street and felt the specific quality of anticipation curdling into something else.

At eight-fifteen my phone pinged. I picked it continue reading …