I followed him.
Behind us, I heard my mother crying.
I heard Aunt Monica arguing with my father.
And I heard one sentence that stayed with me.
“I thought you said Mom would never find out.”
I didn’t turn around.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel responsible for fixing my family’s problems.
I went home.
Grandma was sitting in her favorite chair beside the window.
She looked up when I entered.
“Are they angry?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
I sat beside her.
“Grandma…”
She reached for my hand.
“I know.”
“What?”
“I know everything.”
She looked toward the roses outside.
“Your grandfather warned me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wanted to believe my children would never become people I needed protection from.”
Her voice trembled.
“I was wrong.”
I squeezed her hand.
“What happens now?”
She looked at me.
“Now?”
