The first three passed in Caroline’s guest room with curtains I did not recognize and a mattress too soft for my back.
I slept four hours total.
Every noise woke me.
Doors.
Footsteps.
A car slowing outside.
Once, Caroline dropped a saucepan in the kitchen and I found myself crouched beside the bed before I understood what I was doing.
The body learns fear faster than the mind learns safety.
Rebecca handled the legal filings.
The protective order.
The separation petition.
Financial restraints preventing unusual movement of certain joint assets while everything was reviewed.
Daniel continued gathering evidence.
Mara froze every discretionary access point connected to my separate trust.
Adrian called seventeen times the first day.
Then six.
Then none.
His attorney called Rebecca instead.
Victoria sent one message.
You are destroying your husband over a private marital disagreement.
I read it twice.
Then blocked her.
The bruise changed colors.
