I was overjoyed when my brother announced his engagement—until I learned he was marrying the girl who made my childhood a nightmare. She believed the past was buried, but I had a wedding gift that proved some wounds never disappear.
I was eight years old as I first learned that some monsters don’t live under the bed. They sit behind you in class, whispering just loud enough for you to hear.
Nancy was never the type to shove or throw punches—that would’ve drawn attention. She was far more calculated. Her words were sharp and precise, slicing deep without leaving a bruise anyone else could notice.
Teachers adored her. My parents told me to brush it off. But tuning out Nancy was like trying to sleep with a mosquito whining beside your ear—she never let up.
