She wore a thin beige winter coat that looked completely inadequate for the brutal cold. Snow dusted her shoulders and clung to her white hair, which whipped wildly around her face.
Two old suitcases sat beside her.
One in each hand.
At first I couldn’t process what I was seeing.
Then I noticed movement behind her.
At the end of my driveway, my parents’ SUV was backing away.
For one foolish second I thought they were turning around.
Maybe they had dropped her off and planned to explain.
Maybe there had been an emergency.
Maybe there was some misunderstanding.
Continue on the next page:
