Nathalie Kohen

February 9th, 2022: my boyfriend’s (now husband’s) birthday, and also the day I got dumped. Not by him, but by my father. That cold and wet afternoon was stacked with Zoom calls and emails, the typical work-from-home configuration — but this one would end in a small gathering at Deliah’s, a local dive where the birthday boy would be celebrating. Shortly before noon, I received a text from my father, to whom I will refer by the name I call him, Abba.