[She sips more slowly, but has a healthy dose of liquid courage before she begins. This is not a happy story.]

So, it starts with my grandfather. He left when my dad was little. He gave my dad a magic ring and a warning as a going-away present. A ring that lets the wearer always see through lies and illusions, and a warning to not wear it too long because too much truth is hard to take.

And my dad kept it with him always. Grew up, got married, had me. And had a hole in his pocket. It landed where little baby Verity could grab it, so I did, and I swallowed it. The doctors never got it out, because the ring dissolved.

[Time for more wine.]