He Started It

by Samantha Downing

That’s the thing about family. Despite what they say, it’s not a single unit with a single goal. What they never tell us is that, more often than not, every member of the family has their own agenda.

You can’t fight every battle. Otherwise you end up bloodied, drained of energy, and unable to go on. Sometimes it’s better to agree and keep your mouth shut.

Men who raised their voices, who showed any kind of violence, repulsed me. I wanted the quiet guy in the corner, the one on his laptop or reading a book, or just standing around being awkward.

But that’s the thing about being handed a small fortune: You start to rethink everything. Money gives you options, and the more options you have, the freer you feel.

Sometimes we are a family of assholes. You can blame that on Grandpa, he started it. –––––

The best, but not always the truth. It’s important to know the difference.

Violence always starts with the slam of door or a fist. It never ends there.

Side note about driving across the country: It’s impossible to understand how big it is unless you see how much nothing there is.