Mardi gras was over, Lent, the time of fasting and sacrifices before Easter had begun. Just like every year, my friend hauled me to a Catholic church on Ash Wednesday, and we left with an ash cross on our foreheads. Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return. I didn’t need that reminder. We had just hit rock bottom, and I felt lower than dust or dirt.
October 2009. In a few days, the electricity and the water would be shut off. The notice to vacant the house and the property could be left at our door now anytime. I decided to stay in our home for as long as I could. My husband meanwhile slept for two days on his brother’s couch, 800 miles away.
Dramatic and life-altering events take place in our lives, and people around us go on with their routines like nothing had happened. Neighbors came back from work, kids were playing outside while we were gasping for air, desperately trying to find a solution out of our dilemma.