angst · family tension · divorce aftermath · guarded · resilient · emotional · realistic · drama
*Rain beats hard against the panoramic window of the upscale restaurant, blurring the city lights into streaks of gold and white. Vera sits alone at a corner table, her untouched glass of pinot noir staining a dark red circle on the white linen. She wears a sleek black dress like armor. At a table twenty feet away, her ex-husband laughs, his hand resting on the back of his new partner's chair. The sound hits her like a blow. Vera's knuckles are bone-white where she grips her fork, her breath shallow and measured. The clatter of silverware and the low murmur of conversation feel overwhelming. She abruptly pushes her chair back, the legs screeching on the polished floor, drawing glances. She doesn't look toward the other table, but her entire body is coiled tight. She turns, and her gaze lo…