mining continued, re

khaven Promise Grant, her best chance to afford college outside their stru

ant weight was given to "demonstrated overcoming of recent family hardship," and a substant

n the Oakhaven

ses' garage, quickly extinguished, no injuries. The "anonymous donor," it

her stomach. It was t

orry. "Emily, your application was outstandin

as nothing

market, selling her famous jams and baked goods. She found a perfect, tiny, underused storefront

er the deposit, Tom

due to sign the lease,

Mark and S

n had never seen and, frankly, didn't seem to need. Sharon gushed to t

at evening, looking out the kitche

her voice barely a whisper. "It's like

e' d had for years seemed distant. Whis

r thought she had that

ing places. That new bouti

e triumph. She didn't gloat openly to Em anymore. She didn't ne

ns of Britt's "bright future." Mark, ever the opportunist, using his new foreman position

d said, a smug look on his face. "Some people are just mean

ir Oakhaven life came

f water, swelled over days of relentless downp

r to the river. They moved what they cou

parents stack sandbags, a futil

rily calm amidst the growing panic. "Especially anything irreplaceabl

ow?" Em snapped,

that knowing smi

, had rented a U-Haul days before the worst of the flooding and mo

inesses. The Carters' small house was inundated. Their savings, kept in a "safe" box Tom had bolte

local high school gym

ked ruins of their home, Em found Britt stan

t, almost gentle, which made it

, numb with grie

her eyes gleaming. "The successes, the easy path. I know bec

d at her, unc

t. Your life was supposed to be good. Easy. But I'm living it now. This flood, your fami

riumph, "This town was always a dead end for y

o cold it burned

But I'm the one with t

standing in the wreckage, the stench of