rent was overdue, her children's school had sent another reminder, and he

year-old, walked in, hol

worry. I'll

words lingered. Protect us. Wasn't that what God had always

er at a quiet restaurant. She almost declined-her p

meal, he listened more than he spoke. He asked about her children, her dreams, her scars. And in

e breaks us to build us stronger. But I

e hadn't heard words

though something had shifted in the atmosphere. The wildernes