Chapter 13 - I return to the house
The protection order against Judith became longer-term after hearing.
The judge found sufficient evidence of intentional assault/current danger.
Terms:
No contact for one year, subject extension.
No residence entry.
No workplace.
No third-party harassment.
Could she see Graham?
Yes.
He was an adult.
Not my decision.
Then the marital house.
Graham agreed to move to an apartment temporarily.
Why?
Not because court declared him abusive.
Because both of us recognized I needed the house for recovery and work.
Temporary divorce order:
I get exclusive occupancy.
He retrieves belongings at scheduled time.
Mortgage and utilities paid from marital funds pending allocation.
No changing title.
No asset hiding.
Then I returned.
The stairs were still there.
Leah wanted me to rip them out.
“I’m not demolishing a basement.”
“Move.”
“Not yet.”
The broken tray was gone.
Graham had cleaned.
There was a faint scratch in the wall where metal hit.
I stared too long.
Then walked downstairs.
Slowly.
One hand on railing.
My ribs hurt.
I made it.
No symbolic triumph.
Just stairs.
Then upstairs.
May you like
I cried in the kitchen.
Grief rarely respects narrative timing.
