CHAPTER 6: THE MONTHS BETWEEN
The months leading up to the trial passed slowly, marked by long days preparing testimony and quiet evenings learning to breathe easy again. We found a small yellow house at the edge of town with a big oak tree in the yard and a nursery that filled with sunlight every afternoon.
Sophia started seeing a therapist who specialized in trauma and domestic abuse. I took a job coordinating veteran services at the local VA, helping soldiers returning home find housing and counseling. Elena stopped by often with takeout, sitting with us in comfortable silence. Audrey sent letters asking for forgiveness, but we didn’t answer—not yet.
Sometimes we still felt watched or whispered about in public. But we held our heads high. We’d learned that respect isn’t something you demand—it’s something you live.
---
