Bloody Summer

by Carmen Maria Machado

“Before my father died, he came in almost every night,” he said. “I loved my mother, but she said she didn’t believe me. None of the parents ever did. That was the rule. Until we were adults, we were all fair game.

“Before my father died, he came in almost every night,” he said. “I loved my mother, but she said she didn’t believe me. None of the parents ever did. That was the rule. Until we were adults, we were all fair game. But of co