From Widow to Warrior

sm, triggered by the shock

next, his ex-girlfriend, Jessica, was on my doorstep with

as a bi

rown out with nothing but the clothes on my back and the permanent limp I got f

paper sharp and clear. My leg throbbed with a familiar, deep

calendar read Au

before m

ive. I w

h annoyance. He was an engineer from a rich family, a world away from my

talk," he said, n

m, so grateful for his attention. Now, I saw the

ll room. "She pulled some strings and got that

s my ticket out of this

ing to look at me, "I think w

woman who had followed him here, claimi

erable. She needs it more than you do

r. I fought for that job, and I lost. The fight created a rift between

memories of my death, of his son with another woman, of be

ded s

y, E

ed for a fight, for tears, for a storm of emotion.

ted, confused. "

ica needs it more, she should have it.

smug satisfaction. He thought he had won so e

d no

at made my stomach turn. "I knew you'd unde

eg giving a sharp twinge. "I'm just a littl

ow as a puddle. "Of course. You rest. I'll go te

he room,

lenched into fists. I had given him the

real step toward my own freedom. This tim