MACEY 

I woke slowly. It was so late already, the breeze creeping through the blinds painting stripes across the bedroom floor. For a second, I felt almost normal, almost like the chaos outside didn’t exist.  

My limbs were heavy, my mind foggy, and for a brief moment, I let myself think maybe the world could just wait while I collected myself. Then I noticed her. 

A woman was standing at the edge of the bed, looking down at me with a gentle, almost maternal smile. 

My heart ...