Jason looked around. No one would meet his eye. His friends looked at the floor in embarrassment. He turned and walked out the door, alone.
The tension broke. Sarah’s mom rushed to hug her. Friends surrounded her.
“You are so brave,” Mrs. Vance told her. “Good for you, honey.”
Jason’s mother came up, tears in her eyes. “Sarah, I am so, so sorry. We had no idea.”
“I know, Mary. It’s not your fault.”
Sarah went home with her parents that night to ensure Jason was gone. The condo was empty. His clothes were gone. He had fled.
The annulment was processed quickly due to fraud. The condo remained 100% Sarah’s.
Three months later, spring was breaking. Sarah sat in a coffee shop with Emily, watching the rain wash the streets clean.
“You know,” Sarah said, stirring her latte. “I’m actually grateful to him.”
“Excuse me?” Emily choked on her muffin.
“I am. He taught me a lesson. I was too naive. I let people walk all over me. I’ll never be that girl again. I’m stronger now.”
Emily smiled and squeezed her hand. “Hell yeah, you are.”
Sarah looked out the window. She was single. She was alone. But for the first time in a long time, she felt completely, wonderfully free.
