The sound of sirens didn’t come immediately, but when it finally reached the street outside, the shift inside the restaurant was instant. Heads turned toward the windows….

Outside, the air felt colder than it should have for an early evening in Providence. The officers guided Hannah away first, asking gentle questions she answered in…

The diner was small, bright, and almost painfully normal. I chose a booth near the back, where I could see both the door and the counter. The…

By morning, I had stopped pretending I could go back. I searched for cheap rooms, shelters, anything that didn’t require references or a credit history I didn’t…

That afternoon, I found a small community center by accident while walking just to keep from freezing outside. The doors were open, and inside, people were folding…