The Girl Who Never Existed

Getting our family portrait taken at the end of every summer was an unbreakable tradition in our household. This year was no exception. We stood in the familiar, cramped studio of Gary’s Lens & Light on Main Street, posing against a mottled gray backdrop.

The shutter clicked, the bright flash momentarily blinding me. Gary pulled his head out from behind the camera, flashing a wide, satisfied grin and giving us a thumbs-up.

"Absolute perfection," Gary declared, his voice booming in the small room. "What a beautiful family of three!"