The sun was setting behind the hills. The sky stre with gold and rose. I took out my phone, looked at the last unread message in my inbox, one I hadn’t deleted, just archived. It was from my mother months ago before the fallout. family always finds its way back together. I read it once more, smiled faintly, and hit delete.

Then I slipped my phone back into my pocket, looked at the glow of our house through the window, and whispered to myself. The same way you might say a prayer, you finally understand. Family does find its way back together once you remove the rot.

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