I Came Home Exhausted From My Night Shift And Saw My Father Tagging Me In The Family Chat. “We’re Using Your Lake House This Weekend—20 Guests.” Mom Wrote, “Fill The Fridge And Behave.” I Answered, “No.” She Sent Laughing Emojis. “You Really Think You Can Stop Us?” I Didn’t Reply. Friday Morning, Dad Screamed Into The Phone, “What Did You Do To The House?”
Part 1
Twelve hours into a double shift in the cardiac unit, my phone buzzed under a stack of patient charts, and the notification on the screen had nothing to do with a dying patient.
It had everything to do with a dying family illusion.
My father had tagged me in the main family group chat at 3:07 in the morning.
“We Are Using Arden’s Lake House This Weekend. Twenty Guests. Friday Through Tuesday. Everyone Bring Towels. Arden, Get The Place Ready.”
I stood at
