“Honey,” I announced, “we’re selling the house.” My spouse was flabbergasted – until I explained. I had just opened an envelope containing the 2016 renewal notice for our flood insurance. The premium was over $4,000. We bought the house in 1986. It was on South Bayshore Drive in the Coconut Grove section of Miami, FL. Our flood-insurance premium then was just $1,200 – an amount we considered acceptable, especially given our location across the street from a park on the shore

i run fear paralyses me wait for the next time watch each word i say heart-rate quickens as HE gets home trembling hard inside pain envelopes me bruised black all over broken bones and skin smashed around a way of life body and mind in shock shame blankets me stay and not escape unable to help myself pathetic cowering nothing accept what is just is humiliation drowns me lie to my family hiding torment daily feign happy in abyss of terror too damaged to tell desperation scream