MY SON CALLED AT 2:13 A.M. AND WHISPERED, “MOM, TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS, HIDE, AND BE CAREFUL AROUND DAD.”

Christopher, my husband of fourteen years, had texted me half an hour earlier, saying a meeting two states away would last until dawn.

“Toby? What happened?”

“Just trust me, Mom. I’ll explain later.”

I didn’t ask anything else.

I turned off the main breaker, and the entire house went completely dark.