I peered out the window into the darkness. It was still raining. It had been raining all day. Today was my 45th birthday and I would be spending it alone. My husband had called earlier and said his flight was delayed and he wouldn’t be home until tomorrow. My daughter was spending the night with her best friend, Jenny. I poured myself another glass of wine. “Okay, I thought to myself. I’m going to make this a ‘me’ night....

It was brisk and cool when I began my morning run. The cool air made it ideal for running and the first three miles went by quickly. At the three-and-a-half mile mark, a light rain began to fall. My weatherman buddy had promised me two hours before the rain would begin. He lied to me again. “I can do these last two miles if it doesn’t rain any harder than this,” I told myself as I continued on. My normal route would take...