Laura
The soft light of morning filtered through the heavy curtains, and I opened my eyes reluctantly. The bed was empty beside me, and for once, I felt relief. David’s absence was a brief reprieve from the storm raging inside me. Last night lingered in my mind—the apple candies, the touch of his arms around me as I gave in to the exhaustion. I’d let him hold me, but my resolve hadn’t wavered. This was no longer a marriage; it was a prison sentence.
I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled to the kitchen. The fridge door creaked as I opened it, revealing neatly organized shelves filled with everything but answers. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten anything substantial in days. I pulled out a carton of eggs and started making scrambled eggs, each c***k of the shell grounding
