During a family dinner, my daughter quietly passed me a note: “Mom, immediately pretend that you are ill and leave here.” At first, I thought my daughter was joking, but a few minutes later something happened that horrified me.

I unfolded it just enough to read.

The handwriting was hers.

Uneven. Rushed.

“Mom, immediately pretend to be ill and get out!”

For a second…

Nothing made sense.

A strange, almost nervous laugh rose in my chest.

Was this a joke?

A game?

Something childish and dramatic?