My suspicion has been confirmed. Denial is pointless now, and yet, it’s the one thing capable of getting me through this night. I pull into my mom’s driveway and park the black Toyota. Tears burn my eyes, and I fan them away. I cried in my apartment immediately after learning the truth, a truth that will surely upend my world. It’s best I keep this information to myself. My family can’t know—no one can. Just pretend like everything is okay. You can do this, Azere.

