I Came Home Unannounced After Four Years Abroad and Found My Wife Starved and Shaved in the Backyard. My Mother Said She’d Brought It on Herself. I Didn’t Yell

You do not have to force anyone into it.

You only have to hold the bait steady and let them run at it, and the running is entirely their own.

I held it steady.

And they ran.

“We’ll sign whatever you need, Damian,” my mother said, fast, reaching out to touch my arm, all warmth now.

“Whatever it takes.

We’ll go to the notary first thing tomorrow.”

“Good,” I said.