Page 112 of The Secret to Belonging

you’re setting boundaries

no one argues

your mother moves in with you

your father sleeps on the couch

your brother has the master suite

all to himself

sometimes

your mother weeps in her sleep

you pick up a second job

bagging groceries and pushing carts

you get an employee discount

give your paychecks

to your father

you come home early one day

surprise your brother on the phone

he hangs up when he sees you

who was that?

no one

just talking to a friend

mind your own business

later

you take out the trash

and see him

standing with someone

at the end of the block

they exchange

something

you drop the lid

on the metal dumpster

they jump