WW III, Amanda's Story

  THE FIRST 24 HOURS   CHAPTER 1 Amanda was in the architecture studio, holding her graduation gown up to the light shining in from the skylights above, smoothing the fabric between her fingers as if she could press away the years of stress and struggle each wrinkle represented.  It wasn’t the first time she’d worn a graduation gown like this.  High school, sure—but that didn’t count, this was different, this was the culmination of four years of hard work, late nights, and moments where she almost walked away from it all. Manny—Emmanuel— her boyfriend, was sitting at her old desk, his legs crossed with one ankle resting on his knee, and his phone in hand.  He’d come to spend the morning with her right before graduation, which meant a lot in her mind.  It wasn’t as quiet as she thought, except for the soft swish of the gown fabric as she laid it out carefully on the desk that she called home for the last agonizing year of university life. She didn’...

  WW III, Amanda   PROLOGUE   “Mom, how did you meet Dad?”   Israel’s voice carried that mix of curiosity and seriousness Amanda had come to expect from him and with the patience only a mother of six could have.   At nine years old, he sat with his legs crossed neatly at the foot of the bed, his silver eyes fixed on her — always watching, always thinking.   His curiosity always made her wonder where he got that from.   Probably his dad because she didn't recall ever being like that when she was little.   As she sat with Helena sleeping soundly in her arms, the soft breathing was a steady reminder of the quiet moment they were having after dinner.   The rest of the children were scattered across the bed, their legs tangled, blankets twisted all around them.   Katherine, the oldest, sat upright against the headboard, while Valeria leaned half of her legs on her older sister.   Aisha was tucked up close to Amanda, and Abrah...