I’ve always lived with a quiet kind of fear

It was 11:42 a.m.

I remember the time clearly — I glanced at the clock the moment my phone vibrated.

I almost ignored it.

Unknown numbers rarely bring good news.

But something made me answer.

“Hello?”

“Ma’am? This is Officer Callahan. Your children are safe, but I need you to come home. Your older son was involved in a situation. I’d rather explain it in person.”

For a second… nothing made sense.

The words didn’t land all at once.

“Are they okay? What happened?”