Emma Smith sat at her kitchen table clutching the manila envelope in one hand and a half-empty wine glass in the other. She looked down at her cracked and worn hands. Earlier that day, her husband, Charles, had called her an ugly hag; and perhaps it was true. Yes, much of her beauty had faded over the last twenty years of marriage. Her hair, like grey wires hung lifeless on her shoulders, and her once fit tummy bore the scars of a c-section birth. Emma rubbed her tired eyes and let out a sigh. She unclenched the envelope and opened it once again. She couldn't get herself to read much of it, but she understood the gist of it all: Charles wanted a divorce. She knew he wanted to break her spirits, and also knew that their two children wouldn't show any support. She felt a calm settle over her and she refused to crumble. Although everything fell apart around Emma, she would carry herself tall and come out with her own sense of self discovery.
Emma knew that she wouldn't have had the courage to stay fully strong without the support of some loved ones and, for her own peace of mind, she wanted to reveal all the horrible little truths about her marriage. The next morning she called her sisters, Beatrice and Maribeth. They immediately told her to come over. Between sips of Maribeth's soothing chai tea, Emma felt comfortable to reveal the truth. Her words fell timidly from her mouth at first, but soon she practically yelled. She spoke of the physical and emotional abuse, which consisted of him spitting on her and calling her names too horrific to repeat to her sisters. She knew that nothing compared to the huge secret she tried to hide. Her tears stung like daggers as her mascara ran down her face. She sat forward, hunched, and could only whisper that Charles had cheated on her with Susan, a family friend. Her sisters held her as they all wept together. Emma straightened herself out and wiped her tears.