The Moment that Changed Everything.
The Moment That Changed Everything I know the exact moment my life changed forever. The details of my last few minutes of “normal” are etched in my memory, and even after more than 3 decades, they remain as vivid as ever. I was in first grade, skipping with my classmates to “Skip to My Lou, My Darling,” when the school secretary walked into the room. She called my name, and as I followed her to the office, fear crept into my chest. I had never been in trouble before. I rarely spoke, let alone misbehaved, so I racked my brain, trying to figure out what I had done wrong. When I saw my aunt standing by the front doors, I exhaled in relief—until I noticed the tension in her face. Something was wrong. She wouldn’t answer my questions, only telling me to wait. As my siblings gathered at the front of the school, we had no idea what was happening. Then, we stepped outside, and I saw my mother in the front seat of my aunt’s car, sobbing uncontrollably. My grandparents hovered ...