Flattened. Unrecognizable, if you didn’t already know her. After he greeted me with a concerned look and a hug… “Hi, Biz kid.” “Hi, Daddy.” The questions began. I gave vague, half-hearted replies. He kept it up for about an hour and then just gave up and allowed me to stay quiet, looking out the passenger window for the remainder of the trip. He knew something was very wrong, but he didn’t pursue it. My dad was intuitive like that when it came to me. My mother wasn’t quite so chill. She was hovering by the door for my return. I came into the house and practically slammed right into her. She pulled me into a hug and I hugged her back, but not too hard. If I gave in and hugged back too much, I would shatter into a million pieces. I pulled away and gave her a tight smile, holding back tears, straightened my bag over my shoulder and marched down to my room in the lower level. I heard her greet my dad, “Cal, is she okay?”
