By Jacqueline Seaberg
Things began disappearing after Cam started using again. Grandpa’s gold-plated pocket watch. The PlayStation. Anything and everything from Mom’s purse. The work laptop I had to replace out of my paycheck.
Eventually, Cam himself went missing.
Three years later, he knocks on my door apologizing with an ever-widening smile.
Haltingly, I let him in.
“Remember the good times?” he asks. “Pranking Mrs. What’s-Her-Name in third grade?”
“Mrs. Lopez?”
“Yeah, and that janky car you were so proud of buying at sixteen?”
“Janky or not, it was a Thunderbolt.”
We part as brothers.
That night, my phone is abuzz with bank notifications.
enjoyed the ending – good wok
You captured well the life of a drug addict or alcoholic. Nicely done.
Sad but real. Well done!
Really captured the manipulation. Great job!
Well done!
Great story, and feels so true. Well done.
An all too frequent story, very well told.