Safe Place

cla

e either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemb

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La

ails dug into the cotton sheets. The new king size bed was larger than what she was use

rate began to settle, she glanced aro

clock in the morning, four hours before she was to begin her shift at the bakery. Her nerv

horrible thoughts that woke her deep into her subconscious. The darkness always seem

. Things had gotten too bad for any other option, she had to leave so that's what she did

partment. The stark furniture made the night wind even chillier than usual. On the balls of her fe

ing paranoid as usual. It was still surreal, to finally have her own place after so many mon

b, effectively restarting her life, she thought this might be the fresh start she needed. Satisfied with the safety of her new co

all like a bad dream now, one that constantly chased her, torturing her with the memories of the past. Unable to work due to his controlling ways, she had spent most of

level of danger she couldn't stomach. The thoughts still haunted her, and she

hen she toured the condo. There were few things she enjoyed more than a long, hot bath. The oval lagoon tu

ix boxes to move, but to Lana it was more than she was used to having

the mirror, and noticed a sparkle in her eye she hadn't seen in many weeks. Despite her

Lana could afford to live comfortably without a job. Her new gig at the bakery

the waterfall faucet gushed warm water against the porcelain bathtub. Grabbing two bottles from the cou

too early to slide off her shoulders. It was much better that she slowl

hell after being controlled so meticulously by her husband. Freedom was scary at times, but s

stressed, after spending three weeks searching for a place to live. Real estate was rare and extremely e

one room shack, she needed a place to call home. Restarting her life was going to be ha

eling like a showroom without any personal touches. After washing her hair, bathing, and exfoliating, she walked through her new place wrapped in a bath towel. She was goin

the morning coffee or evening dessert. When she went in one morning to see a

as exciting to be learning new things and meeting her co-workers. Her trainer

d mastered the barista station. Lana was eager to make the best lattes and cappuccinos she

, she found a t-shirt. Few occasions demanded attire more fancy than her regular uniform, and she was gr

of the weight she lost in the months leading up to and after leaving her husband. She had gotten

carefully considering applying a little mascara. Afraid it might draw extra attention she

appeared to be safe. For a quick moment, she debated going for a walk since she still had time to spare before her wor

the coffee maker first. Almost mechanically, she set it next to the refrigerator. Danny always liked th

coffee maker to the other side of the kitchen, just below the window. Eager to finish setting up, sh

mall smile crept across her face. This was the first place that

ding the perfect place to store each item in her kitchen. When Lana fnally finished

intimidated to drive the busting City of Taguig taking her time to admire the brightly tal

shining brightly in the window. The aromas from the bakery poured from th

dy and was excited see wh

r man called as he held

Lana beamed, thrilled that

his black coffee and custard danish. He was one of the first customers she had ever

followed her inside. His white hair blew in the wi

atching as the older man walked cautious

a decade older with all that she had been through in such a brief time span. Women her age were just beginning their lives, while she was starting over. Anything was better than the nightmare tha

e end of the very long and lonely tunnel she had found herself in after leaving her husband. The future