The new apartment was modest but solid, with old wood-framed windows, hot radiators, and a view of the neighborhood elementary school across the street. After unpacking, Natalie put on her sister’s pendant and stood in the quiet, breathing in the unfamiliar feeling of peace. It was nothing like the toxic atmosphere of lies and fear she had lived in for years.
At first, living on her own felt strange. But before long, she settled into the rhythm of it. She worked regular hours, made simple dinners in her small kitchen, and slept through the night without waking in a sweat. Greg called again and again, leaving rambling messages full of excuses, but she blocked his number.
He skipped the preliminary divorce hearing, but he did show up for the final one looking unshaven, rumpled, and angry. In court, he demanded half the condo, but the judge reviewed the records and denied the claim outright. When Greg started shouting, court officers escorted him out, and the divorce was finalized.
At the business center, Alex still stayed late over his projects and, out of habit, still left a cappuccino for her. One evening, Natalie was dealing with a minor flood from a tipped-over water cooler on an empty floor. When she came downstairs, she found Alex asleep at his keyboard and draped his jacket gently over his shoulders.
She meant to slip away, but he woke at the touch and, blushing, asked if she wanted to grab something to eat at the all-night diner nearby. It was a tiny place with vinyl tablecloths and excellent homemade food. Over bowls of hot soup, Alex told her stories about Sam the cat knocking over a favorite vase that had belonged to his mother-in-law…
