Chapter 2: Escape to Solace
Diane's POV
My eyesight became blurry as tears flowed down my face, but I was too stubborn to care. All I knew was that I had to get out of there, away from the devastation of my life, away from Sophie, away from Liam.
The sun was sinking as I pulled into Joan's driveway, casting a pink and orange glow over the sky that seemed to mock the gloom eating away my heart. With a worried expression on her face, Joan was already standing on the porch. She knew just one glance at me. She just threw her arms around me and hugged me hard.
At that point, the dam burst. My body erupted into uncontrollably sobbing as I fell into her arms. "They... he... Sophie..." Though I was unable to speak clearly, Joan was able to understand.
She stroked my hair and mumbled, "Shh, its okay." "You're safe now. Release everything."
And I did. I sobbed for the lost future, for the sister I believed I knew, and for the marriage I believed I had. Joan supported me the entire time, her presence a bulwark against the tempest of my feelings.
When my sobs calmed into hiccups, Joan gently guided me inside. The beach house was precisely as I remembered it: snug, pleasant, and full of memories from happier times. Now, it felt like a safe haven, a place where I could lick my wounds and attempt to make sense of the turmoil that had become my life.
Joan took a seat next to me on the comfy sofa and poured me a drink. "Explain everything to me," she murmured
So, I did. I spilled the entire sordid story: finding out about Liam and Sophie's affair, and the nasty things spoken. felt my chest's weight lessen, even if it was only little, with every phrase.