Ashlie Howard

Some people make an impression the moment you meet them. They carry themselves with a quiet confidence, possess a seemingly endless well of knowledge, and have an uncanny ability to solve problems that leave everyone else scratching their heads. More importantly, they use those gifts not for recognition, but to make life better for the people around them. Quenton “Q” Northcraft is one of those rare people.

I’m Ashlie Howard and this is my story of the night of the flood at 5714 National Road. June 14th was a productive day for me. I had just replaced the banister railings on both sides of my steps that led up to my back porch, cleaned off the porch, and set up the new storage bench I had put together the day before. I had also laid a new patio the previous weekend. The place was really coming together. I had been steadily working on my trailer almost every weekend since 2023.

For a long time, I thought fun and substances were basically the same thing. Not exactly—but close enough that I didn’t question it. Celebrations meant using. Stress meant using. Boredom meant using. Even happiness somehow circled back to it. I told myself I was having fun. And sometimes, even in the moment, it  felt that way. But the part I didn’t talk about—the part that mattered more—was what came the next morning. Waking up not feeling well. Trying to piece together the night before.