Anabella stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over Clair's contact name. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions, and she could feel the cracks in her resolve threatening to spread. It wasn't just the divorce papers; it was everything. Her mother, Daniel, the pitying gazes from strangers—it all weighed heavily on her, like a storm she couldn't outrun.
She inhaled deeply, her hand trembling slightly. This wasn't just a call for help; it was a declaration that she couldn't do this alone. And that truth, as liberating as it was, still hurt.
Finally, she pressed the call button. The ringing seemed to stretch on forever until Clair's familiar voice answered.
"Anabella?" Clair sounded surprised, and Anabella could almost picture her adjusting her tone to sound calmer, softer. "What's going on? Are you okay?"
Anabella hesitated, her voice catching in her throat. "Clair... I need your help."