.
Now they sounded rehearsed.
Because I had seen this performance dozens of times.
Whenever cruelty stopped working, he switched to guilt.
Whenever intimidation failed, he became a victim.
Whenever accountability approached, he demanded sympathy.
The pattern had remained identical for nearly two decades.
Only my willingness to participate had changed.
“Please,” he whispered. “I need you.”
I zipped the suitcase closed.
“No.”