This short story is so incredibly personal but necessary for me to share with the world. It represents the darkest time in my life, my struggle with depression, suicidal thoughts, and the process I went through to find myself again. I hope that, although I dive deep into the sadness I experienced, my story rings with hope for healing and the truths that carry us. 

This short story was begging to be written for ages! I am forever grateful for the writing group WORD ADDICTS for the push and opportunity to bring it to life. I wrote this story, The Jewel of the Desert, based off of a family memory of my great-grandmother Lilac who during World War 2 would take her children (including my grandfather) to Topaz Internment Camp to play with the children there. My grandma Lilac was an incredible woman and it was so enjoyable to spend some fictional time with her as a character in this story. I hope you like it!