The Birthday Party Where My Mother’s Perfect Image Cracked

turned into a proposal on a windy overlook, Derek on one knee, a ring so bright my breath caught.

My parents were thrilled. “You’re so lucky,” Lauren said. “He’s perfect.”

That word again. Perfect.

I had already seen little cracks by then, but I ignored them.

The first time Derek raised his voice at me was four months before the wedding.

We were going over continue reading …