I didn’t need an alarm. The howling wind outside made the early morning hours difficult to sleep. Throwing back the sheets, I begrudgingly rolled out of bed. 

My morning routine felt as chaotic as the winds outside. Even my quiet time was harried. The demands on my calendar vied for my attention, and the weight of responsibilities taunted me like a schoolyard bully hiding in the shadows.

The smell of exhaust tickled Brittany’s little nose as she walked away from the big yellow school bus toward the house where she and her mom stayed. As she neared home, those big brown eyes searched frantically when she heard booming, angry voices.