They Missed My PhD Graduation—So I Used The Empty Seats To Tell The Truth

joked, already backing toward the car.

“Oh, honey,” Lila said now, her voice dropping to that particular tone of sympathy that made my eyes prickle with tears I refused to shed.

“It’s fine,” I lied automatically, the words coming out practiced from years of use. “They’re very excited. They just couldn’t make the drive today.”

“No,” she said firmly but continue reading …