text: “Remember Marsha?” “Mom’s friend from Philly?” “No, that’s Marcia. I said Marsha, M-A-R-S-H-A. She lived next to us when we were kids. I went to school with her brother.” “Oh yeah, Bobby’s sister. What about her?” “Well, she went missing.” “You’re kidding! When?” “About a week ago, apparently. I’m friends with Bobby on Facebook and he shared a post with her picture, asking for leads. It said she dropped her kid to school one morning but never showed up for work and no one’s heard from her since.” “And is there any reason to suspect foul play?” “What do you mean?” “Like, do they think she was taken?” “Well, of course they assume something like that must have happened. Do you think she’d choose to disappear on her family?” “I don’t know. We haven’t seen her for years; we have no idea what her life is like and what she would or wouldn’t do. Anyway, that would be the best-case scenario, right? Leaving on her own free will to get a fresh start. It’s certainly better than being held captive or lying murdered somewhere.” “You’re unbelievable!” “What? I’m just saying it’s a possibility, and the best one anyone can hope for.” “Not everybody finds it so easy to bail on their responsibilities, you know?” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Forget it!” “No, go ahead. You think I bailed on my responsibilities when I left George?” “You said it, not me.” “You didn’t have to. You always find a way to get your point across without saying what you really mean.” “Ok! You really want to know what I mean? This has nothing to do with you leaving that asshole. But we leave spouses, not children. How long has it been since you last saw Lucy?” “Don’t you go there! You have no right to judge me as a mother, specially when you have no idea what having children is like.” “Yes, because Carl and I chose not to have them. You did, and now you’re just going on with your life as if you hadn’t.” “You know it’s not easy to schedule visitations when I’m working the weekend shifts at the store. Anyway, I told you before: Lucy is better off with her father until I can get a proper place for the both of us.” “I’ve been hearing this for over a year now. When was the last time you even went looking for an apartment?” “Is that your way of saying I’m overstaying my welcome? Because, let me remind you, I’m not your charity case. I paid you for every month I’ve been here and I’ve helped you cover your mortgage.” “Please! Your rent barely covers the cable bill. Carl and I only agreed to that amount so you wouldn’t feel like a freeloader. And, honestly, we thought it would give you time to get on your feet, and maybe save enough for a security deposit.” “As if! You need me to be a screw-up so you can feel good about yourself. The minute I get back on my feet is the minute you’ll stop feeling all superior for taking care of your messed-up sister! (...) Aren’t you gonna say anything? (...) Don’t you ignore me when I’m talking to you!” “I’m not...” “Well, get off your fucking phone.” “Bobby posted again. They found Marsha’s car.” “What? Let me see!” “It was abandoned outside of town” “Near the woods! Do they think she’s there?” “Well, he’s inviting people to take part on a group search.” “Look at his picture... Oh boy, Tony hasn’t aged well, has he?” “I know... I believe he had a drug problem for a while. He shares some inspirational quotes about sobriety sometimes.” “That doesn’t surprise me. He was drinking beer when we were, what, eleven? And his father was a big time drunk, don’t you remember?” “I do... But so was ours, and we didn’t become addicts because of it.” “Do you really think Dad was an alcoholic? Sure, he liked to drink, but I don’t think he drank any more than Carl does, for example.” “Are you implying my husband has a drinking problem?” “What? I’m saying the opposite! I said he drinks just as much as Dad did, and I don’t think Dad had a drinking problem.” “It’s crazy what you choose to remember! Dad would come home late at night nearly passed out! Mom had to drag him to bed. I never had to do this with Carl!” “Yeah, because Dad liked to drink in bars with his friends. The difference is that Carl doesn’t have to come home. He just drinks here on the couch and can easily drag himself to bed when he can’t manage anymore.” “You have some nerve to judge my husband like that!” “What? I’m not.