At 3 A.M., My Brother Dragged Me Out of My Bedroom While Dad Laughed—He Had No Idea What the Smoke Detector Had Recorded

Aaron stood near the dining table moving a chair that didn’t need moving.

He looked up.

“Madison, I was only trying to help.”

I stopped.

For years, I would have answered.

Asked how searching my drawers helped.

Explained why his hand on my arm frightened me.

Demanded an apology.