Chapter 1

My sister-in-law, Amber, was totally obsessed with her boyfriend.

The Arctic Apocalypse was upon us.

I’d taken my whole family to stock up on supplies, explicitly warning Amber not to tell anyone about it.

The very next day, she went and told her boyfriend everything.

Later, as our family hunkered down in our safe house, cautiously living day by day, Amber started throwing a fit, insisting she had to deliver supplies to her boyfriend’s family.

I tried to reason with her.

"Amber, the apocalypse is here.

We need to look out for ourselves first.

We don't even know when this will end; we can’t just give away our precious resources."

Amber wailed, accusing me of being petty and jealous, claiming I couldn't stand to see her happy.

She even threatened, "If Jake dies, I won't want to live either!"

My in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, screamed at me, calling me a heartless troublemaker.

They snatched the thick winter coat I’d set aside for myself and handed it right over to Amber’s boyfriend.

Then, they kicked me out of the house, telling me to go 'reflect on my selfishness.'

I froze solid, my eyes wide open, glazed over with bitter, unfulfilled regret. My husband, Ryan, and his family, the very ones who cast me out, survived, warm and fed, thanks *only* to the immense stash of supplies *I* had painstakingly gathered.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back a few days before the apocalypse.