I blinked my eyes open when the bell rang at Iris’s school and the playground outside came alive with children’s chatter. I had been busy since 4 am in the morning, and in my waiting for Iris, I had fallen asleep in my car.

I saw Iris in the company of other girls exiting the elementary school. When she saw me, she bid her friends goodbye before running towards me.

“Mom!” she beamed, getting herself on the back seat.

An easy smile found its way to my face as I started the car “Hello ...