Chapter 2

I froze, stunned, and tried to explain myself.

But before I could, my sister Emily sent me a text.

“Mom and Dad are really mad right now. You should leave before you stress Dad out and trigger his heart condition.”

I wanted to defend myself, but the thought of my dad’s health stopped me.

I replied: “Emily, can you please explain to them? I was just at a reunion, that’s all.”

She didn’t reply.

With nowhere else to go, I decided to book a room at a nearby motel to wait out the storm.

As I stepped outside, the rain started pouring in sheets, and the temperature plummeted.

Wearing nothing but a short skirt, I shivered uncontrollably as the cold wind cut through me.

The water on the streets quickly rose, turning into rushing streams.

As I carefully made my way down the sidewalk, I heard the faint cries of a child.

Turning around, I saw a small boy—no older than four or five—being carried away by the floodwaters, screaming for help.

I reached out to grab him, but my foot slipped.

Before I could react, I was swallowed by the icy, murky water.