With The Black Smoke Following

The life she left was in flames.

Their war waged behind closed doors with cuts and bruises concealed outside with clothing and makeup, with stories and lies. Repeatedly defeated, he took her away, away again, and they left another home in ruins, with the black smoke following.

In a rare moment, he let down his guard. She ran five states away and there she hid for two years, until the blaze crested and crashed.

She returned home as one returns home after the smoldering fires, having nothing left to burn, have smothered themselves and the only choice is to rebuild.