BEGINNING

It is day ten of no contact with my husband. I am holding out hope that he is alive, but for now, I will lay low. After losing contact, I left Phoenix and was picked up on the side of the road by a group of women. We all seem to have one thing in common: no draft, no water. We have found a spot to settle somewhere in the Mojave Desert, at least for a little while. There is not much fresh water here, but I think with conscious usage, we will be able to make it work.

The evenings are calm, and the weather is not too bad yet. I sat outside for a bit last night and just looked out into the vastness of the desert. Leaving the city has been nice; I can actually see the stars. It reminds me of how small we are—something I wish more people could realize.