He Started It

by Samantha Downing

Portia changes targets. She sprays the mace at Eddie.

This, apparently, is what we do in our family when we feel threatened. We get violent. Or at least some of us do.

Have you ever wanted something so much, you go ahead and pretend you have it? Like maybe your house isn’t perfect, but you tell people it’s your dream home so many times you start to believe it. Or perhaps you hate your job but you won’t give it up, because maybe the next one will be worse, so you convince yourself it’s not that bad. It is. You’re just pretending it’s not.