I would remain seated in the center of the poolhouse, awaiting Easton’s return. As I did not want to return into the house as I was too horrified to encounter Cliff or my mother-so instead, I remained put. My fingers would dance around the space he had now cleaned to be absent of any boxes; aside from one. I pulled apart the wings of the box and began to shuffle through the contents before noticing how these items were childhood photographs of me that my mother shoved away for safekeeping. Some were bent and some were even torn or disfigured, but that happy-go-lucky smile on my face was evident in a time prior to Cliff or Easton. But then came one photograph in particular; one I hadn’t witnessed before-and one that was taken by Easton. I had been in Tanner’s car, asleep; serene and what ap
