Author’s Note

Author’s Note

It happened. Really. A man fell on my head the summer after I started my MFA program at Southern Illinois University and crushed my spine like a soda pop can. It took about two years of therapy and lots of support from family, friends, and the medical community before I could walk without aid. I woke up that sticky July morning strong, ready to head to a lake to guard lives and teach boating safety. That night, I lay on my bed, alone in the dark, thankful I wore sandals I could pull off with my toes—I couldn’t do anything else. My life changed immeasurably in the instant it took to hit the dock. This collection glimpses the lives of people I hold dear and people I met in passing during moments of vulnerability. I have done my best to represent them with grace and respect. My apologies for anything I didn’t get just right. —Liz Whiteacre