“Dad?” A noiseless corridor and an empty house were perfect. I needed that peace to piece together and sort everything out. I was participating in a very human activity today, and I wanted the world to feel more mundane before I went outside.
The hinges creaked when dad opened the door, revealing half of his hunched body while the other was hidden in his room. In an instant, his head bobbed up and down, scanning me from head to toe. He didn’t have any kind of expression on his face, and I began to think his appraisal was ineffective.
“You’re dressed up,” he noticed. His voice sounded like nails scraping against a chalkboard, and I couldn’t help but wince. He coughed, clearing his throat. “I never see you dressed up.”
I surveyed myself, spreading the pink ruffles of my dress. “Atlanta bo
