But while he was gone, she realized it might be her only chance.
She took some hidden cash.
Left the apartment.
Got on a bus.
At the bus station, another woman told her about the shelter.
That was how Nora eventually found Elaine.
“She was terrified Caleb might come looking for her,” Elaine said.
“Did he?”
“Not that we know of.”
“Where is he now?”
“I don’t know. Nora hasn’t seen him in years, and she doesn’t want to know.”
Michael stared at the table.
Then he asked the question I had been afraid to hear.
“Why didn’t she call us once she was safe?”
Elaine looked at me.
I already knew the answer would hurt.
“She was ashamed.”
I started crying before she finished.
Nora believed we would blame her because she had left willingly.
She thought we would ask why she hadn’t escaped earlier.
