Now That You Mention It

by Kristan Higgins

The weeks turned into months. I tried to console Lily, asked if she wanted to do things together, but she ignored me, alone in her grief, which she clearly viewed as deeper than mine. I’d lost my father and his buoyant, exhilarating love, and it seemed I’d also lost Lily’s.

the Big Bad Event. I’d started calling it that to lessen its impact, and because the words assault and home invasion sounded way, way too scary.