Chapter 71

The sun’s gentle rays streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the room as I woke up to a soft knock on the door. Stretching, I made my way to answer it, curious about who would be visiting on a Sunday morning. To my surprise, Joy stood there, her eyes puffy and red, betraying a storm of emotions within.

“Joy, what’s wrong?” I asked, concern furrowing my brow.

She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Can I come in, Laura? I need to talk to you.”

I nodded and let her in, closing the door behind us. We sat on the worn-out couch, the silence heavy with anticipation. Finally, Joy spoke, her voice shaky but resolute.

“I’ve decided to divorce David,” she said, her eyes avoiding mine.

I sat there, absorbing the weight of her words. “Joy, I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”

She started to cry as she began to unravel the painful truth. She spoke of maltreatment, of nights filled with fear, and a marriage that had become a suff