The Unbent Spine

Summary

I was the "accident" my parents had when they were too young and too reckless. They dropped me off with my grandparents and disappeared, each starting a new life, a new family, without me.

Eighteen years later, I was the state's top scholarship recipient. They fought through a crowd of reporters to reach me.

"See?" my father said, beaming. "If I hadn't been tough on you, you never would have learned to be so independent."

My other relatives showed up with bags of bruised, overripe fruit from the discount grocery store. "Poppy," they cooed, "don't you forget who your family is."