Letters come and go, telling me I should run. What do I do instead? I lead my family out to the bright light of the sun. The not so “secret admirer” said they’d hurt my kids, but I thought it was an excuse to shut my eyelids.

Now I know that threats really are promises. The warnings of harming those I love ringing in my head are spelled in my children’s blood. My cries are filled with dread.