My Daughter Turned Sixteen That Morning And Blew Out The Candles On Her Birthday Cake—But Before The Night Was Over A Drunk Driver Destroyed Everything, Taking Her Life And Her Best Friend’s While My Mother Fought For Survival In A Hospital Bed

“Love you more,” I answered automatically.

None of us knew those would be the last words we would ever say to each other. The phone rang a little after nine that night while I was washing dishes in the kitchen. At first I almost ignored it, assuming it was Lily calling to ask if she could stay out a little later.

But the number on the screen wasn’t hers.

“Hello?”

A man’s voice answered, calm but urgent.