She put on a navy-blue blazer, tucked her burning anger into the corner of her heart where fear used to live, and headed toward campus with her head held high.

She didn’t yet know that walking into that room would destroy far more than a marriage. But she knew that turning back was no longer an option.

PART 2

The morning on campus was crisp and clear, as if the city hadn’t quite woken from a long, dreamless sleep.

Selena crossed the main esplanade with her heavy backpack over her shoulder, her thesis clutched to her chest, and a silk scarf that wasn’t hers covering most of the mess in her hair.

A young student had practically run up to her at the entrance to the humanities-building restroom, her face full of concern.

“Doctor—well, you’re not quite there yet, but you’re almost,” the young woman said with a tenderness that nearly brought Selena to tears. “You helped me not to drop out of my master’s program last year.