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

without inflection, “is at a surprise engagement party this afternoon. For my brother’s girlfriend. They texted me this morning to let me know they’d be watching the livestream instead.”

I heard a soft collective intake of breath ripple through the audience. In the front row, a woman’s hand flew to her mouth.

“I spent nine years at this institution,” continue reading …