I Returned For Thanksgiving To Find My Parents Gone—And My Father Waiting

for God knows how long. Hours? Days?

My stomach churned with nausea and rage.

I stood up quickly, my mind immediately shifting into tactical combat casualty care protocols—the training that had been drilled into me until it was muscle memory.

Warmth. Fluids. Hygiene. Assessment.

I needed to get the heat on. I needed to get him water. I needed to get him continue reading …