Safe Place

an

n their neighborhood. On their walk the previous night, she had pointed out her gym, noting that they had a referral

she had sacrificed for her marriage. Danny never liked her working out, claiming it would only make her mor

ding through her neighborhood like a maze. Every new route memorized gave her a ren

er. In a way she thought it was a good sign that this w

dering if her gym clothes exposed too much skin. No matter how badly she wanted to break free

rge black muscle shirt, she knew she might garner the type of attention sh

long tunnel that led to the gym. Peeking through the group of people, Lana tried to se

Fitness World," she smiled,

oduced herself. It took a certain level of confidence to do something li

Danny's abuse, it was like she could barely recognize herself. Meeting this woman who reminded her o

strong, and Lana instantly admired the woman. She wanted to reclaim her stren

've just moved a few blocks over," Lana nervou

you going," Violet smiled. She was almost too energetic, and

is somewhere I can see myself working out," Lana explained, hoping the woman wasn't of

ek membership, and then if you like it, we'll upgrade

she needed. A poster on a back wall displayed a schedule of group cl

he nodded, speaking more

st need your dr

r wallet. "Oh, I wanted to mention that my friend Tina re

ll add it to your profile and if you upgrade,

er's last name. She knew she had seen it written somewhere at the bakery, a

squinted in response, she continued. "Red

" Lana point

er to your profile. Now, go ahead and sit tight for a moment. I'm going to input a

y, g

t of her comfort zone coming into the gym and it was all turning out to be a grea

ilities seemed to appear. Before long, Violet appeared with a laminated name tag. Lana's

" she noted, running her f

hout even seeing the gym," Violet joked, and the two women laugh

women worked behind a counter with baskets overflowing with fresh fruits stacked on a bac

is, you can work out in our facilities seven days a week and still not be healthy, and

t almost all plans encourage you to implement smoothies and juicing into your diet. Here,

na, especially since she could see the workers using nothing but fresh fruits and vegeta

uipment, classes, and even a vegan restaurant. Unlike other gyms she had been to, Fitness World wasn't overly crowded or stuffy.

Any questions?" Violet asked, after she had

y had made sure her old gym had a gender-based separation so she wouldn't be seen by

m for you? We have very low tolerance for any type of sexual harassment if that's wha

em," Lana lied. "Where is

hall," Violet poi

h for the tour

I'll see you

quietly as possible. To her surprise, it was empty and far too fancy for an ordinary gym. It resembled a spa

quickly turned to fear as she looked around the many rooms, intimidated by the options. Deciding t

ad always held a special place in her heart. A smile swept across her face as she slip

as intoxicating. Nothing cleared her mind like a good run, and with each step

perience, Lana wondered what other recommendations she might try out. Even without a car, there was s

fun and relaxing exercise had quickly shifted to panic as the same anxiety from the night before crept in

y her constant state of fear. It was impossible for her to run wit

people in the weights portion of the gym. A group of young guys in a corner turned to the door w

fear was in her head, a side effect of paranoia. She didn't need to worry

d dumbbells while squatting. Her muscles strained with every motion, and she

he could focus on what was important-rebuilding her life. As she watched her reflection

eved the future would only get brighter. Her first-grade teacher used to say tha