Educated by Tara Westover

the sofa; I perched lightly on one side. The lights dimmed, the opening
credits rolled. Charles inched toward me, slowly at first, then more
confidently, until his leg brushed mine. In my mind I bolted, I ran a
thousand miles in a single heartbeat. In reality I merely flinched.
Charles flinched, too—I’d startled him. I repositioned myself, driving
my body into the sofa arm, gathering my limbs and pressing them
away from him. I held that unnatural pose for perhaps twenty seconds,
until he understood, hearing the words I couldn’t say, and moved to
the floor.