My family.

Living, it was now undeniable, in a car.

Chapter 2 — Absolute Shame

I tapped firmly on the glass.

David jolted awake, and for a fraction of a second, before he was even fully conscious, pure animal terror crossed his face — the look of a man braced for the next bad thing.

Then his eyes focused, and he recognized me, and something far worse than terror replaced it.

Absolute, drowning shame.

He pushed the door open.

“Dad.

What — what are you doing here?”

“I came to say happy birthday.” I looked past him, to the small sleeping shapes in the back seat.

“Now you’re going to explain to me what you’re doing here.”

He dropped his head.

“It’s complicated.”