Shattered Winter: The First Day Back

Shattered Winter: The First Day Back

The first day of winter hit me like a punch: snow mixed with rain, biting cold, and the dread of returning to work after a long absence. My nerves were frayed as I bundled up and tried to ignore the ache in my heart from mistakes made the previous summer. As I navigated the icy streets—and my own regrets—I realized that some storms are harder to weather than the ones outside.

Mom Asked Us to Help Pay Her Heating Bills, But We Soon Discovered Where Our Aid Really Went

Mom Asked Us to Help Pay Her Heating Bills, But We Soon Discovered Where Our Aid Really Went

In late August, my mom called me, asking if my husband, James, and I could help her with her heating bills for the upcoming winter. She’s been living alone in a small town since my dad passed away. I have a sister, Rebecca, who lives in our city, not too far from us. I assumed mom had also reached out to Rebecca for help. Little did we know, our efforts to keep her warm through the winter would uncover a truth that would change our family forever.