"I really want to turn back time, Mom," Avery mumbled. "I don't care if we're poor."

"No matter what happens, running away is never the solution," Laura said as she sat down next to her daughter. "If you can't handle your father's company, just let it go. There will always be opportunities to make money, but you can't forgo your studies."

Avery glanced at her mother and caressed the wrinkles on her face, then said, "I won't run away. I'm just a little tired."

"Take a break if you're tired. Have you had dinner?"

Avery shook her head.

"Let me whip something up for you," Laura said, then walked into the kitchen.

At eight in the evening, Avery went into her room to rest while Laura left to take out the trash.

It began to rain.

It was not heavy, but it was a constant drizzle.

Laura could not be bothered to walk back upstairs to grab an umbrella, so she braved the rain and ran toward the dumpster.

She threw the trash into the dumpster and turned back toward the apartment.

That wa