They told me to stand in the corner because mom only wanted blood relatives in the photo, so I told those same blood relatives to pay the $40k themselves…

a little too hard.

I never framed that picture.

Instead, I chose another photograph.

One the photographer had taken when no one realized he was shooting.

In it, I was standing beside Dad’s empty chair.

His letter was still in my hand.

My shoulders were straight.

And everyone around me looked afraid.

Mom wanted blood in the photo.

Dad made sure love got the inheritance