At our annual family reunion, my older sister, Maria, shoved me into the lake. She laughed as I struggled for air, her words cutting through the murky water: “Don’t be so dramatic.” My parents, Rebecca and David, watched from the dock, silent smiles on their faces. I didn’t argue. I just fought my way back to shore, lungs burning, a new, cold resolve hardening inside me...... The scent of pine needles and barbecue smoke hung over the lakeside cabin, a picture-perfect setting for the family’s fav

At our annual family reunion, my older sister, Maria, shoved me into the lake. She laughed as I struggled for air, her words cutting through the murky water: “Don’t be so dramatic.” My parents, Rebecca and David, watched from the dock, silent smiles on their faces. I didn’t argue. I just fought my way back to shore, lungs burning, a new, cold resolve hardening inside me...... The scent of pine needles and barbecue smoke hung over the lakeside cabin, a picture-perfect setting for the family’s fav