Chapter 12 — The Filing

Meanwhile, Lars pressed the divorce.

He demanded half the value of my inherited house.

He demanded repayment for renovations he had never paid for.

He demanded spousal support, on the grounds that I had “abandoned the marriage.” And — this is the part that took my breath — he attached photographs of my bandages to his filing, as proof that I was now too damaged to maintain the property.

He used the burns he had given me as an argument for taking my father’s house.