Rain, fog, and mist has settled over Baltimore unleashing a deep freeze. A darkening gray sky descends upon the skyline as I walk through puddles on cobblestone street, my breath smoking around my head like a chimney

I was almost sure we were lost. To make matters worse, daylight was quickly diminishing and we didn't have an ounce of phone service to keep the GPS functioning. The gas tank was nearly empty, and I was sitting next to a woman I cared deeply about and felt responsible for protecting, who only spoke about 85% of my language, on a wooded backroad along steep cliffs and outcroppings.