I stepped outside after being in my mother-in-law’s house with family all day. Being inside had given me a false sense of reality, and I needed a break. I wanted a breath of fresh air and a look at the sky in her San Antonio subdivision.

When I opened the front door, the heat gripped my head and wouldn’t let go. There was no fresh air and no relief. The sun hung low over the houses across the street and poured out heat through the leaves of a tree. I went indoors and finished packing for the flight to New Orleans in the morning. 

I wondered what next summer would feel like. The thought depressed me, so I focused on winding down for bed. Tomorrow and next summer would take care of themselves.