Alex never liked it when his mother, Janice, made him walk home alone from school— not because he was a particularly fearful child, but because the roads were jagged and there were no street lights along the way. He simply didn’t feel it was safe for an 11 year old to do so. The dread consumed him the entire day.

Eventually, he exasperatedly shared his troubles to Peter, his best friend since gr...

Rain, despite it being the most important day, thrashed against the metal roof of the church.

A day I thought would be only full of sunny rays, consumed by soggy ground and gloomy clouds.

The day went on and expectations were low,

Then the sun shone and reminded us that the storms we face never last forever.

Moments later, I walked out,

Veil softening my silhouette; dress shining with the sun,...