Someone Had to Stay

Not to wait for Liam and scream at him when he came home from his office, fresh and showered and rested from his mother’s house.

I had no more words left to spend on Liam, and no interest in spending them.

I was going back for one reason only, and I wanted to be gone again before he ever returned.

I had learned, over years of trying, that arguing with Liam accomplished nothing, and that arguing with Liam in front of Brenda accomplished less than nothing, because the two of them together formed a closed loop that no truth could penetrate.

Every conversation became a referendum on my tone, my sensitivity, my failure to appreciate how hard he worked, and I always ended it more tired and more doubted than I began.