The gasp the twins gasped was enough for Lucille to sprint away from the room. The brothers lingered for a minute and stared down at me as if drinking the last details of my body and presence, and then they too left.

Me returning to my mother surprised them enough to shut their mouths. They know the moment I’ll leave, they’ll be no one for them to pick at, to bully at.

I closed the door and studied every little detail of the room that has been my solace for twenty years.

This time, I really packed my things from my room. That confrontation earlier was enough to pack my...