The storm raged over the house again that night, but way worse than the previous. I tried so hard to sleep, wiped out emotionally and physically. I know I slid in and out because there were moments of utter terror when nightmares of being sucked into a vortex of spinning green fire and others of riding inside a swirling mass of fury punctuated my memories.

***

I lie on my bed, the gossamer curtains eddying in a slight breeze. The scents of lilac and ...