He lived with us too because Sarah insisted he needed a better public school district.
I bought his school clothes.
I paid his field trip fees.
I replaced his sneakers when the soles split.
I bought the tablet he now spent half the day staring at on my couch.
I did not resent Tyler.
He was a child.
Children do not create family hierarchies on their own.
Adults teach them where to stand.
Sarah had been teaching him for months that he stood above my daughter.
I had heard enough remarks to know it.
I had ignored enough remarks to be ashamed of myself.
I told myself she was old.
I told myself she was sick.
I told myself Michael would handle it if it ever got serious.
Then I walked into my living room and found my baby bleeding over a hot dog.
Some people do not hate you all at once.
