My supervisor arranged hours that allowed me to pick Harper up myself.

At the school gate, I learned the names of two other parents and began exchanging greetings.

For a while I imagined danger every time an unfamiliar car slowed near the curb.

The fear diminished with repetition.

Some days I felt almost like the woman I had been before.

Other days I returned home tired from appearing calm.

Dr.

Patel reminded me that parents also need support, and I started seeing a counselor regularly rather than treating my own distress as something to handle in secret.