Joy Kogawa

Mama never lied. Her eyes were wide with shock as if she could not believe what she had just said. I don’t know what it took for her to speak. She said it was her fault. I couldn’t move. After some time—I don’t remember how long—I walked away from her, past Dad in his room lying in his cot, blanket up to his chin. He knew she had told me. His eyes registered this. I had to go through his room to reach the stairs to my attic room.