On my birthday, my dad turned to me in front of everyone, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “I wish you were never born.” Something inside me broke. The next morning, I didn’t argue or cry—I packed my bags, withdrew my savings, found a new place… and disappeared without a backward glance. The restaurant was one of those downtown Italian eateries with soft, comfortable lighting and affordable prices that make you sit up straight. The Lions game was on the bar TV. Outside, the October breez