The party began the way so many warm-weather gatherings do — with folding chairs scattered across a sunlit yard, conversations drifting easily between neighbors, and children racing through sprinklers that sent arcs of water glittering in the afternoon light. A half-cut sheet cake sat waiting on a plastic table, music spilled softly from a speaker, and parents laughed about parking, school schedules, and the small joys that knit a community together. Everything felt ordinary, safe, and familiar — the kind of moment people don’t realize they’re cherishing until it’s gone. Continue reading…
