Chapter 2: Neon Lights and Vending Machines
Their first night was spent in a roadside motel off Interstate 95. The neon vacancy sign flickered red against the peeling wallpaper. Sarah had exactly $340 in her checking account; Marcus had quietly drained their joint savings weeks ago. As Leo slept curled in the scratchy blankets, clutching his favorite stuffed bear, Sarah sat by the window. She didn't cry. The betrayal of her husband and the coldness of her mother-in-law had burned away her tears. In their place, a fierce, unyielding resolve took root. She would build a fortress for her son, brick by brick, even if she had to dig the clay herself.
