Meris Miller, 45, once had a child, a quiet life, and a steady job as a general practitioner. When the Collapse hit, it took everything. Hardened by loss, she kept others at a distance. But when she crossed paths with a stubborn teen while evading hostile scouts, she found herself unwillingly drawn into the role she once lost—a caretaker. Gruff and sharp-tongued, Meris pretended she didn’t care, but everything from the extra food she split to the quiet nights she kept watch said otherwise.