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Her phone buzzed on her nightstand. Sonia picked it up quickly, but when she saw the message, her heart sank.
We heard your show was genius! Absolute genius. Our brilliant, talented daughter, the brightest star in the sky. We want to know all about it.
“No, Dad,” Sonia murmured. “Not now. Please don’t do this.”
We haven’t seen you in so long. How about we come down from Baltimore. We’ll celebrate!
At the word “celebrate,” Sonia’s stomach churned.
Why didn’t you tell us about the show?
You never tell us.
A pause.Or did weforget? I’msorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry if we forgot.
Another pause, then the texts began again.This is Mom. Sonia, please call, baby. It’s been so long. Dad and I talk about you all the time.
Sonia dropped the phone on her nightstand, but it kept buzzing.
Please, baby
Please
Please
Sonia shoved the phone under her pillow. She felt heartless. She always felt heartless in these situations. Her throat tightened, but she knew better than to answer.
It hurt that they’d forgotten about the show schedule. Because in her most vulnerable moments, Sonia rewrote her parents in her mind to be the people she wanted them to be: dependable, honest, and steady.
Dragging herself to the bathroom, Sonia turned the shower to high heat and stood under the spray, trying to wash away her frustration.
When it came to charm and insincerity, her father took the cake. And her mother willingly participated in the illusion, prizing appearances above all else, embracing the glittery, fake life her dad promised.
As a kid, Sonia had gotten caught up in the power of his words over and over again. She’d worshiped her dad. But she learned that in the end, he’d let her down. Her parents’ life was all surface and show, a layer of success over a fucking void that no one looked at. Work titles and social prestige masked family secrets and affairs, missed responsibilities and unkept promises. Sometimes they were flush with money; other times, they were in debt. Growing up, Sonia had her parents’ attention when she didn’t want it, and none of it when she did.
Ultimately, she’d learned that she could only rely on herself.
Out of the shower, she began stretching in front of her bedroom mirror to calm down. While she was doing the splits, her phone rang, muffled by her pillow. Coming out of position, Sonia snatched it up, wondering if it would be Brendan or her parents.
It was Diana. Sonia breathed a sigh of relief and took the call.
“Everything okay?” she asked, grateful for the distraction. “It’s after midnight. I thought you needed your beauty sleep for the wedding, or something.”
Diana laughed, her voice cheerful and familiar. “I figured you’d still be awake.”
“Eh, you know I’m a night owl.” Putting the phone on speaker, Sonia began stretching her quads. “Unlike you.”
“I’m exhausted,” Diana admitted. “I’m so ready to be married and done with it. And I have to get up early for the gym, because Ian’s putting me through the paces.”
“He’s still training you?” Sonia teased.
“Yep. He expects me to wear these ancient red satin track shorts I’ve had since high school, and he says I’ll get a spanking if I don’t.”
Sonia laughed. “Now that’s romance.”
“But my head’s so full of the wedding that I can’t sleep. And you? You sound…” Diana seemed to be searching for the right word. Something nicer than “tired,” “defeated,” or “pathetic.” “Rusty,” she concluded.
“Me?” Sonia scoffed. “Nah. That’s just the sound of failure.”
