Alyona

It was a bright Thursday morning, but my mood was anything but. The sunlight poured through the windows like it was trying to drag me out of bed, but I just turned to the other side, pulling the covers over my head.

I hadn’t been to school in a week.

Seven whole days of staying home, watching over Grandma, reading to her, sleeping beside her, and checking her breathing at least a dozen times each night. The dark circles under my eyes were practically setting up camp.

I felt safe at ...