Chapter 9

"Emmie! Thank God you're finally awake!" Joanna's embrace was warm and fierce, her familiar perfume making my eyes sting. Weakly, I lifted my arms and hugged back my friend who'd crossed oceans for me. In the corner of the room, Anker's eyes were red-rimmed. Those once-seductive grey-blue eyes were now bloodshot. He took a step forward, then hesitated and stopped. "About the divorce… is it still happening?" My voice was a harsh croak. The air froze. Anker's Adam's apple bobbed. Finally, he forced out a syllable: "Yes." Stepping down the marble courthouse steps, the afternoon sun glinted off the divorce decree I'd just received. Joanna nudged me playfully: "Wow, barely conscious and you rush to file for divorce? What happened to the Emma who'd die for Anker?" I tilted my face to the long-missed sun: "While I was out, I figured a lot of things out. Grandpa's trust fund could last me ten lifetimes. Why waste a life on a man who doesn't respect me?" Anker rushed out after us. He