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

If I wanted to leave it four minutes fast, I could do that too.

I went into the bedroom.

The thrift-store lamp stood slightly crooked.

I straightened it.

Placed my phone on the nightstand.

Then turned off the light.

The room grew dark.

For a moment, the repaired door moved gently in its frame.