Chapter 16 - The Woman in the Mirror
On the second anniversary of her divorce, Sabrina attended a charity gala.
She wore an ivory dress.
For several minutes, she almost changed.
The color reminded her of that night.
Then she looked at herself in the mirror.
The bruises were gone.
The memory was not.
She kept the dress on.
At the gala, she met Ethan Cole, an architect whose firm designed affordable housing.
He did not know her history.
At least not immediately.
They talked about terrible catering.
Then buildings.
Then travel.
Then why hotel conference rooms always had carpets designed to hide coffee stains.
Sabrina laughed.
Ethan asked for her number.
She hesitated.
Then gave it to him.
Their first date was coffee.
Their second was dinner.
Their third was canceled because Sabrina panicked.
Ethan did not demand an explanation.
He simply texted:
Another day is fine.
That sentence nearly made her cry.
No pressure.
No punishment.
No accusation.
Months passed.
Ethan learned her history gradually.
When Sabrina finally told him about Gavin, he listened.
He did not promise to rescue her.
He did not call Gavin names.
He did not make Sabrina’s survival about himself.
He simply asked, “What makes you feel safe now?”
Sabrina realized nobody had ever asked her that.
“Choice,” she answered.
Ethan nodded.
May you like
“Then you'll always have it with me.”
For the first time in years, Sabrina allowed herself to imagine love without fear.
