uffman

ore replayed in quiet fragments as he lay staring at the ceiling-nothing dramatic, nothing

t crossed

him everyth

holding her family together with one hand while the other kept reaching for someone who no longer wanted to be caught. She'd t

im what she was

tomorrow," she had said quiet

hadn't tried to fix anything.

ere," he'd said, "

was e

cked up his phone and sent the message

rni

and checked the time twice. He didn't want to rush her.

to accompan

came a few

eet me

He exhaled, shoulders

e. I'll b

ainst the bright sky, its stone steps already warming in the sun. He waited ne

ed she looked. Not run-down-determined. The kind of

ard her as sh

u holding u

d. "I'll get throug

in her tone that mad

e to be used to it

or a moment, then

ed inside

he self help center was quiet. Mia asked for the divorce packet and the fee waiver, her voice

er, Mia hesitated for just a second before taking

it real,"

already are real.

most s

ed toward

familiar voice

is t

fr

lf closer without touching her. Tyler stood a few

uments," Mia

apped to Alex.

" Mia replied. "Because I d

ped forward. "You thin

oice even. "We'

chin. "We are

ode. But courthouse glances were starting to turn their wa

ed past

fol

topped at the steps, gripping the papers like

side her, giv

thing brave t

. "I didn't think brave wo

ly does,"

t him then.

r coming," sh

ex replied. A