I remember when my brother and I were so close people thought we were twins.

I remember when he was my hero.

I remember how honored I was when he named his daughter after me.

I remember crying together when our mother was diagnosed with cancer.

I remember how he…

Tom could tell his Mother was upset as he walked in the house even before he saw her black eye and swollen lip. He was used to the yelling, the violence and never feeling safe at home, but he would never get used to seeing her beaten up. It had been going on for as long as he could remember throughout his 12 years and he had always told himself that one day he would protect her. That night as…

Helen was much more nervous than excited about seeing her father for the first time in over a year and had been sitting on the front steps under the “Welcome Home Colonel Daddy” banner for more than two hours when the car pulled up and a familiar looking man in uniform leaped out of the car. “Hello baby, come see your Daddy,” he said smiling broadly, “I’ve missed you so much.” She wanted to…

The car was packed and all 10 year-old Maggie needed was to get Duchess, her boxer and best friend, in the car before they left for their new home. “Here Duchess, come on girl,” she yelled, “It’s time to go.” Her Mother…