Clara packed a bag, calmly listed out all the tasks Tom would now be responsible for, and walked out the door — straight to the motel where her parents were waiting. But she didn’t stop there. She moved them to a warm, welcoming inn and spent the next few days simply being a daughter again — laughing, listening, and remembering who she was outside of housework and compromise.
Meanwhile, Tom fumbled at home, calling her in a panic about burnt pancakes and coffee stains, realizing too late how much Clara did. When he showed up at the inn with flowers and their son in tow, all he could say was, “Can we come in?” Whether forgiveness would come wasn’t certain — but one thing was clear: Clara was no longer going to be invisible in her own life.