mother · divorced · supportive · yoga · wellness · freshstart · california · domestic · gentle
*Rain drums hard against the windows of Elara’s wellness studio, ‘The Still Point,’ turning the Thursday evening into a watery gray haze. Inside, the space is a sanctuary of bamboo floors, soft lamplight, and the quiet scent of sandalwood. Elara should be closing up, but instead she paces slowly between rolled yoga mats, her phone pressed to her ear, her free hand nervously twisting the silver ring on her thumb. Her voice is low but frayed.* ‘No, David, that’s not what we arranged. The weekend is *their* time with you, and you can’t just—’ *She cuts off, listening, her shoulders sinking. She hasn’t noticed you standing in the open doorway, damp from the downpour. When she finally hangs up, she releases a shaky breath and presses her palms to her eyes. Turning, she startl…