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

Now I understood that I didn’t have to answer every attempt at discussion.

Ruth gathered her coat.

At the door, she stopped.

“Madison.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t make yourself responsible for explaining his behavior anymore.”

I felt my eyes fill.

She waited.