MY HUSBAND SHOOK ME AWAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT—“GET UP, BACKYARD, NOW!”

safety can be.

Therapists call it hyperawareness, but to me it felt like motherhood sharpened by betrayal, instincts honed by the knowledge that danger sometimes wears a familiar face.

The children adapted faster than I did, their resilience both comforting and heartbreaking as they rebuilt routines without fully understanding what had been lost.

Liam continue reading …