The Abandoned Son
"Mom. You keep saying I'm your flesh and blood. Then tell me — how many ribs does a person have?"
She went still.
I answered for her. "Two of mine were broken. And you told me it was Chloe being young and foolish, that I'd had a bad attitude, that I should just be the bigger person and let it go. So tell me — exactly how big a person do I have to be to just let go of two broken ribs?"
My mother opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
Behind us, Chloe shouted, "Mom, don't beg him! Let him leave if he wants to! This family doesn't need him!"