Mother Wants My Winning Ticket

Summary

When I opened my eyes, the air felt different—thicker, colder, and smelling faintly of cheap floral perfume and hairspray. I realized with a jolt that I was back. I was back on the day that had dismantled my life.

It was the afternoon of my cousin Tiffany’s wedding. Earlier that day, during the reception, I had managed to snag several party favors—little gold envelopes tucked into the centerpieces. In this small, judgmental town, these were the "lucky" favors Tiffany’s new husband had boasted about: scratch-off lottery tickets.