I gently pulled my hair over my shoulders as I walked briskly from the parking lot to the bank entrance. Although sunglasses felt unnecessary in the early morning glare, I wore them in the hope of concealing my tiredness and distress. With every person I passed, I squared my shoulders and wore a confident smile, attempting to mask my struggles. I hurried through the banking hall, silently praying not to encounter my biggest supporter, Terrance, or my most determined adversary, Elisa. The remnants of last night's confrontation with Tommy were evident—the bruises on my face and neck were bold declarations. Despite layering on thick makeup, I felt the pain beneath, which only heightened my self-consciousness.
As I stepped into the elevator, I let out a sigh of relief; I had navigated one of
