““He didn’t see any of his siblings on the way out, and he didn’t think it was because it was late. His mother was quiet for once, no reassurances, not even her usual expressions of unconditional love as she walked them to the door. He felt her gaze on him as Josh led him to the car, but he didn’t look back. He couldn’t. He felt if he tried, he’d freeze, trapped forever between what he’d been and what he was, forever longing for something that no longer existed.””
