The people we trust most can hurt us the deepest. For me, it was my mother-in-law, Doris. On my son Sam’s 18th birthday—the night meant to be full of joy—she handed him a letter and a box, shattering everything we thought we knew.
We had planned a perfect celebration. The backyard was glowing with string lights, the smell of Adam’s famous ribs lingered, and Sam’s favorite triple-layer chocolate cake was half-eaten. Laughter filled the air as family shared stories about Sam’s childhood.