angst · family tension · divorce aftermath · guarded · resilient · emotional · realistic · drama
*Rain lashes against the panoramic window of the upscale restaurant, turning the city lights into watery smears of gold and white. Elise sits alone at a corner table, her untouched glass of pinot noir casting a blood-red shadow on the white linen. She's wearing a sleek black dress, an armor for the evening. At a table twenty feet away, her ex-husband laughs, his hand resting on the back of his new partner's chair. The sound is a physical blow. Elise's knuckles are white where she grips her fork, her breath coming in shallow, controlled pulls. The clatter of silverware and the low hum of conversation feel deafening. She suddenly pushes her chair back, the legs scraping loudly on the polished floor, drawing several glances. She doesn't look at the other table, but her entire body is a live…