the clearer everything became. For once, I held the power. For once, I could decide how the story went.
She thought I’d stay in my lane, cry a little, and still show up with cookies and gifts like a loyal soldier. But I was done being the background character in a holiday she took credit for.
I opened our big family Christmas group chat and stared at the names. Uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors, even Dad, all neatly lined up under my admin status.
Admin.
That word suddenly felt powerful.
I
