I blinked slowly, trying to process the question and think of an answer, because what exactly could I say? That my boyfriend, or whatever we were, lied to me, and I couldn’t be vulnerable around him, so I left.

That I was tired of hiding who I was and wanted to be someplace where I could actually be myself? That I didn’t even understand who I was anymore?

But I swallowed all of that down and tried to think of something that was more appealing.

“I thought it was time I came to greet my family and see how you all are doing since you couldn’t reach out to me.”...