The turning point came one summer when her father announced a trip for all three children. It wasn’t common for him to plan outings, and Miriam’s heart had leapt at the idea. They drove out to the lake, windows down, the air carrying the smell of pine and water. Daniel sprawled in the backseat, bragging about how many fish he’d catch.
Elise hummed along with the radio. Miriam pressed her forehead to the glass, thinking that maybe this time would be different, that maybe she’d get to see the version of her father who had once carried her on his shoulders. At first, it felt almost normal. He baited Daniel’s hook, showed Elise how to steady her line, even pointed out the ripples where fish might gather.