He did not understand that he was looking at the most powerful thing in that house, momentarily pointed downward at the ground, and that all it needed was a reason to point outward again.

He gave me the reason when he tried to steal my son’s home and desecrate my son’s memory.

And the love that had been crushing me stood up, and turned around, and became something he was entirely unprepared to face — because there is nothing on this earth more formidable than a mother whose love has been given a target.

Chapter 15 — The Locks

Three days later, I went back to my house.

Not to reconcile.