I swirl the wine in my glass, watching it catch the light. “That he’s been cheating. With prostitutes.”
“I fucking knew it!” Mia shouts, slamming her palm against the floor. “That slimy piece of shit. I knew he was screwing around.”
Valerie’s face darkens, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Are you sure the mask guy is telling the truth? How would he even know that?”
“He’s been following Eli,” I admit. “Watching him, like he’s been watching me. He had photos and receipts.”
“Jesus, Lila,” Valerie whispers. “This is so fucked up.”
“I know,” I say, but there’s no real conviction in my voice. “But it makes sense. The ‘business trips,’ he doesn’t want to touch me anymore-not that that is a bad thing. He locks himself in his office for hours... I’vesuspected for a while.” I keep some of that a secret because they don't know anything about the sexual assaults I've endured.
“That bastard,” Valerie seethes. “After everything else he’s put you through? The control, the isolation, the fucking mind games? And now this?”
I nod, surprised by how little pain I feel. Maybe I’ve been numb to Eli for longer than I realized. Or maybe tonight, with the masked man, something fundamental shifted inside me.
“Val’s right,” Mia says, her dark eyes flashing with anger. “Eli has always been garbage, but this is next level. You need to leave him, Lila. For real this time.”
The words hang in the air between us. I’ve talked about leaving before, in whispers and hypotheticals. But it’s always seemed impossible, where would I go? How would I survive without access to our joint accounts? What would Eli do when he found me?
“I know,” I say finally, my voice stronger than I expected. “I’m going to.”
Valerie’s eyes widen. “For real? You’re not just saying that?”
“For real,” I confirm, and as the words leave my mouth, I feel their truth settle into my bones. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep living like a ghost in my own life.”
Mia springs to her feet, nearly spilling her wine in her excitement. “Holy shit, yes! Finally!”
“It won’t be easy,” Valerie warns, always the practical one. “Eli won’t just let you go.”
“I know,” I say again, because I do. Eli sees me as a possession, not a person. “But I have to try.”
“Stay here,” Mia says immediately. “My guest room is yours for as long as you need it.”
Tears prick at my eyes, unexpected and unwelcome. I blink them away. “Are you sure? It could be a while before I get on my feet.”
“Positive,” Mia says firmly. “My house is your house. Always has been.”
“When do you want to do this?” Valerie asks, already shifting into planning mode. “We should be strategic.”
I take another sip of wine, thinking. “He’s away until Tuesday. So maybe Monday? That gives us three days to plan.”
“Perfect,” Valerie nods. “We’ll need to be quick. In and out. Only take what you absolutely need.”
“Clothes,” I list off. “My laptop. Important documents.”
“Your books,” Mia adds with a small smile. “At least some of them.”
The thought of my library, my sanctuary in that cold house, makes my chest tighten. “I can’t take them all.”
“We’ll get you new ones,” Valerie promises. “A whole new collection.”
“And we’ll need to think about legal stuff,” Mia says, her brow furrowing. “Divorce papers, restraining orders if necessary.”
The word ‘divorce’ sends a shock through me, though it shouldn’t. That’s what this is, what I’m planning. The end of my marriage. The thought brings both terror and relief.
“We’ll figure it out,” Valerie says firmly. “Between the three of us, we have enough to keep you afloat until we can sort out the finances.”
Mia nods in agreement. “And you can pick up more hours at the print shop if you want. Or we can pay you more. Whatever you need.”
