I didn’t look back.Dignity was never something they gave me.All they had ever given me was one humiliation after another.The day Beth left the country, the house was as busy as if we were preparing for a wedding.As Mom packed her luggage, she kept reminding her,“Put this medicine in your carry-on. Don’t check it in.”“Bring two sun hats. You can’t get too tanned—you need to look good in photos.”“Take that white dress, too. It’ll look beautiful in pictures by the sea.”My brother checked the camera, power bank, and travel adapters.Dad urged the driver from the doorway, then turned around and asked,“Beth, do you have your passport? Let Dad check one more time.”Beth sat on the couch and said softly,“Stop hovering around me. I’m not a little kid.”Mom immediately said.“You’ll always be my little girl.”When I dragged my suitcase downstairs, the voices in the living room stopped for a moment.Mom was the first to frown.“Why do you have a suitcase?”I said, “I’m leaving.”Dad’s e
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