was driving home when I saw a little girl on a school bus, banging on the back window in terror. My world stopped. Something was terribly wrong. But what danger could a little child possibly be in on a seemingly safe school bus? I chased the bus to find out, only for my heart to skip a beat.The rain pelted against my windshield as I drove home, each drop echoing the heaviness in my heart. Today had to be the worst day of my life. First, my fiancé called off our wedding last week, and now, I’d just lost my job. My mind was a tangled mess of thoughts and emotions…”Stay calm, Mollie,” I whispered to myself, knuckles white on the steering wheel. “There’s got to be another way. If one door closes, another opens, right?” But the words felt hollow

How could I go home and tell Mom I’d been laid off? She’d worry herself sick. Ever since Dad died, she’d been my rock, and the last thing I wanted was to let her down.My phone buzzed for the fifth time. Mom again. I pulled over to the curb and answered. “Yeah, Mom, I’ll be there in ten minutes. I’m driving…” “Mollie, honey, have you seen the weather forecast? There’s a big storm coming. Please be careful.” I swallowed hard. This storm was nothing compared to the one brewing inside me. “Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. I’ll be there soon.””Is everything okay? You sound off.” “I’m fine, Mom. Just… tired. I gotta drive, okay? Love you,” I hung up, my throat tight. How could I tell her I’d lost my job just for speaking up to the higher-ups? They’d used the excuse of “not meeting quarterly targets,” but I knew the real reason.”What’s the worst that could happen now?”