As I drove my rental car into the entrance of the well-groomed Southern Californian gated community my heart pounded. I had dreamed of this encounter for years. Now that it was about to happen, the reality threatened to overwhelm me. I struggled to maintain an even grip on the steering wheel as I piloted the car to the house I sought, past neatly trimmed lawns and ducks floating in picturesque ponds.

I don’t remember arriving at the house or parking the car. Somehow I found myself on her stoop, and knocked on her door. One minute passed. Then two. Finally a sound…footsteps. The door opened, and my heart stopped beating. Read more…