A Memoir of a Nightmare

As plates were carried through to the dining room, I moved into a corner by the front door. One of my young cousins came to stand next me and i slipped my arm around her. She was a quiet kid, probably a little overwhelmed by the noise. And though i wondered how school was going, i didn't ask her just now. We would recite the blessings, sing the songs and light the first candle. Each of us in our own homes would add another candle each night. In that moment, night fell, the windows were dark, and we found their way to the table.