Pre prologue:
Lana stormed out of the living room with heavy angry steps, into her small bedroom.
"Stupid ingrate" she hissed under her breath "bastard" she cursed as she angrily folded her clothes into her travel bag
Justin didn't know what to say. He just leaned against the door, arms folded, watching her pour out all the fuss over a simple misunderstanding
"Hey...Lana..." She turned to him aggressively, her tear stained eyes accusing him
"what??" She demanded and Justin got silent. He hated this version of her. The one that never let him complete his sentences. The one that did everything irrationally. The one that was the first to point out faults and make up things just to suit her imagination ...
Already growing an anger of his own, Justin walked away, hands in his pockets. He didn't want to get in her way. No... Not this time, not ever. It was finally time to admit that they could never work in the first place . Finally time to stop trying to make it work.
Lana stared at the spot where Justin just left, a new wave of tears making her shudder. He'd betrayed her.. betrayed her feelings, but she didn't care anymore.. it was over now.
She heaved a small sigh and zipped her bag closed. "Goodbye Justin... and I'm sorry" she rolled her bag out of his small apartment and boarded a taxi.
Prologue
Lisa closely examined the fleshy bruises on Lana's red swollen neck, a sour expression on her face.
"For Christ sake, girl, was this mark done by a curling iron?" Lana winced as Lisa smeared a generous amount of ointment on the wound .
"Well..." Lisa urged, furious and Lana knew exactly what came next.
"I've told you time after time that you'll end up dead if u persist to see this fucked up union through to the end, but you just wouldn't listen" she continued, her voice softening
Lana stood up from the hard chair she was sitting on, and thanked her friend quietly, before walking to the mirror with tired, heavy steps.
She stared at her reflection, bringing up her fingers to touch her face . She sighed, a deep sigh of regrets, tears choking her. She looked up and tried to blink back her tears, but it wasn't until Lisa drew her into a comforting embrace, a cascade of tears began pouring down her face in a muffled sob. Silent at first, later a loud, sad wail, filling the entire room, while Lisa stroked her hair, making small, understanding noises.
It took a long while before she could stop...a very long while. Until her sobs slowed and her breathing came in silent, uneven wisps.
"I think I'm gonna get a divorce...for real this time" Lana said silently, but her voice was bold enough for Lisa to hear as Lana's head rested on her lap.
Lisa stared at Lana seriously, as if trying to confirm she'd said what she heard.
In that moment, the weight of Lana's words hung in the air like a whispered secret, heavy with the promise of finality. 'You've said that before, dear one,' she replied softly, her voice a gentle counterpoint to the turmoil brewing within Lana. 'What makes this time different?'"
As Lisa's words settled, Lana's eyes, once brimming with tears, now seemed to hold a spark of determination. Her voice, barely above a whisper, carried the weight of conviction: "This time, I know it's for sure." Lisa was faintly smiling now, a small relieved smile. And she was truly relieved. It's been months since she'd been suggesting a divorce to her friend's canny, oppressive marriage but she refused to listen... holding on to the false promises of a change
"If you're perfectly sure you want to make this decision..."
"I am" Lana cut in in a whisper causing Lisa to shoot her a short glare
"How about moving with me to Los Angeles "
"Los Angeles?" Lana blurted "Since when... Why??" she turned to get a good, long, incredulous look at Lisa
"I got a job in Glendale. Planned on moving with Kent"
"Well why didn't you tell me?"
"Don't you think it would have seemed inconsiderate if I announced my new job in the middle of your crisis?"
"True " Lana nodded, sitting up "... but Los Angeles... that's like on the other side of the country. I mean... how did you even manage to secure a job all the way over there?"
Lisa shrugged " explaining won't help achieve anything... don't you think; all I'm concerned about is if you're willing to come with"
"Honestly, for you, I see it as an opportunity to start afresh... " She continued when she noticed Lana's silence "You know, get a job, find someone new..." She hesitated, checking to see Lana's reaction "so... what do you think?"
"I think it's perfect" she said, her voice a symphony of excitement "I've always wanted to move to Los Angeles"
"That's perfect" Lisa clapped sighing "I've already got my things packed. I planned to book a flight for Saturday "
"Already?"
"My stay starts Monday next week.... anyways, care for a drink?"
Lana whipped around to face Lisa "got any ginger ale?"
"Ofcourse not. Who still drinks that in this age?"
"I'll just have what you're having then".....
In the next few weeks that passed, Lana spent her days preparing for Los Angeles. She handed the divorce documents to Rowan casually on Thursday, with the chamomile tea she usually made him in the evening. His reaction was almost cinematic. He feigned surprise accompanied with should have been like anger and disappointment if she didn't see through the pretense. Ofcourse she'd known Rowan wanted this divorce as well as, if not more than she did. So she'd told him to quit his charade and sign the paperwork. He'd done that immediately , like a puppy compelled to obedience . Then as quickly as needed, she was at Lisa's the next morning, who had Lana's favorite sandwiches waiting for her; then at the nearest store the next morning for necessities, and finally in the 10:15 Los Angeles flight on Saturday ____.