I Paid for Baby Formula for a Struggling Mom of Three – the Next Day, a Soldier Knocked on My Door

Stopped attending family gatherings. Stopped answering when friends called to “check in.”

The sound of a baby crying could drop me to my knees. It didn’t matter where I was.

Grocery store, parking lot, even just a TV commercial. That sound ripped straight through me, like my body still believed I had a child to soothe, even though my arms were empty.

That Tuesday afternoon, I had to go to the grocery store. I’d been putting it off for days, but the fridge was empty and surviving on crackers wasn’t working anymore.

The store was crowded and loud.

I kept my head down, my coat zipped to my chin even though it was warm inside.

I just wanted to get out.

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