Winning Changed My Life

when my winnings hit the news, relatives climbed into my windows. great aunts and uncles, sixth cousins, uncles twice removed. some families stormed over to demand their due with no connection. you remember me – yes, I do, the neighbor who never waves back heard hard luck stories that topped one another fast and furiously I bought myself a new identity, new face, new name. had to leave my family behind because they did not want new faces. I I left half my winnings with them, as that was fair. ex-husband keeps calling me, begging me to take the money back. he has big trouble since the divorce settlement was announced. I am in the Bahamas where there are no crying children or ex's. a good looking man in lying the green plastic beach lounger. I suck in my stomach and try to look chic. He smiles and I smile. He has great teeth and a sweet tan. “Hey, aren’t you that gal who won the lottery?”