Mary Wilson.
Sarah Wilson.
Jessica Wilson.
All women’s names.
“Dad, who are these women?”
He lowered his head.
“People whose lives changed because of me.”
Everything inside me went cold.
“Do you have another family?”
My mother began crying even harder.
My father answered quietly.
“No, Emily.”
“Then what did you do to those women?”
He said nothing.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
“You’ve been paying Mom to stay silent for thirty years. And now you’re telling me that people’s lives were ruined because of you? I have a right to know the truth!”
My father looked at my mother.
“Bring the photographs.”
My mother reached into the bottom of the box and pulled out an old envelope.
Inside was a photograph of three little girls.
They were sitting in a hospital hallway.
The oldest looked about ten years old.
The youngest was holding a worn-out doll.