Chapter One: The Morning Rain
It was 9:30 a.m. in Chicago, Illinois, and the rain drummed softly against the windshield of my mother’s car. I could feel the chilling humidity creeping through the air vents, conjuring memories of hot summer days long gone. Gray clouds loomed heavily above the city, and the drops slid down the glass like tears I refused to shed. I was living my own storm, but today would not be a day for tears. Today was a day for reclaiming my dignity.