A hot dry morning might be characterized by a blazing sun, parched air, and a landscape shimmering in the heat, but all of those combined couldn't hope to describe today, the father thought. Certainly nothing would have convinced him to get out of the house — that is, under normal circumstances.

Joe dropped her off to school five minutes early and listened to music the whole way there. A long time ago, they had bonded over underground indie artists. Now it's all she ever plays when she's with him.

Not that he minded, of course. He didn't particularly like the genre, to be honest, but the memories and nostalgia associated...