After months of negotiations, airing dirty laundry, and conceding more than she’d hope, Angela was finally free. Divorce was never a path she saw for herself, but then again, does anyone?

She took some of her settlement money and jetted off to a small villa in the country. The goal was relaxing solitude. The excursion was her mom’s idea - a palate cleanser.

She stepped out of the cab and closed her eyes to take a deep breath of the fresh air. She exhaled the thoughts that had plagued her on the journey here. This was a time to regroup and leave the rest behind.

The air was sweet with the smell of recent light spring rains. The ground was covered in a mix of grass and clovers, wildflowers dotting the hills around her.

Her mom was right - these next two weeks were exactly what she needed, and she was ready.