Chapter 3 - Safe Harbor
The next morning, Clara woke up on a lumpy velvet sofa in her sister’s cramped city apartment. When she had shown up at Maya’s door at midnight, barefoot and shaking, Maya hadn't asked a single question. She had simply opened her arms, brought Clara inside, and made a pot of chamomile tea.
Now, sunlight was streaming through the single window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Maya walked into the living room holding two mugs of coffee.
"How are you holding up?" Maya asked gently, handing a mug to Clara.
"I feel like I'm waking up from a bizarre nightmare," Clara admitted, wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic. "It’s only been two days, Maya. Two days since the wedding. What am I going to tell people?"
"You don't owe anyone an explanation," Maya said fiercely, sitting beside her. "You tell them the truth, or you tell them nothing. The only thing that matters right now is that you are safe. Did you turn your phone back on?"
Clara nodded slowly. "He left fourteen voicemails. They range from him crying and begging me to come back, to him screaming that I'm ruining his life and threatening to take the car. It’s terrifying."
May you like
"He's losing control, and he hates it," Maya noted, her expression darkening. "We need to get ahead of this. You need a lawyer today. If it's only been two days, we might be able to get this annulled."
Clara took a deep breath, the coffee warming her chest. The idea of facing the legal system was daunting, but staying married to Daniel was impossible. "Okay. Let's make the call."
