My Mother Told Me To Stay Behind While She Took My…

Then they were gone, taking Olivia with them. Living with Grandma was not as bad as I had imagined. She was pretty cool in her own way.

She gave me space when I needed it but was always there with a cup of tea, a plate of cookies, and a patient ear when I wanted to talk. Still, it did not feel like home. Not at first.

My twentieth birthday arrived faster than I expected. That morning, I woke up feeling strange. I should have been excited.

I was officially no longer a teenager. But all I felt was empty. Mom called, of course.

“Happy birthday, sweetie,” she said in an overly cheerful voice. “I’m sorry we can’t be there. Work is just crazy right now.

We’ll celebrate next month when we visit, okay?”

I knew they would not. They had not visited once since they moved. “Sure, Mom,” I said.

“Sounds great.”