Her story came out in dribs and drabs and I tried not to interrupt, only sitting next to her and holding her hand.
At first, the word on her street was that the power would be coming back on and everything would go back to normal.
But it didn't.
Neighbours helped each other out, sharing food, looking after the little ones, making sure everyone kept warm.
People tried to find out what was happening, listening to their battery powered radios. But there was only static.
As food and fuel supplies dwindled, panic began to set in and neighbour turned against neighbour. Everyone expected the Army to turn up, but they never did. The skies were silent too. When people from the next town turned up, some walking and some in pick up trucks, things got ugly.
Riley and her Mum, my Aunt Jackie, had
