Tera Staten

Maryanne

She pulled into the driveway. As she sat there holding the keys, she couldn’t bring herself to get out of the car right away. It was not exactly the house she wanted. Instead the unremarkable little ranch was a sensible, responsible choice. But she couldn’t help but think about the tiny, charming cottage with the arched doorways and cozy breakfast nook. That’s where she really pictured herself. That’s where she saw herself hosting intimate dinner parties with close friends, sipping after dinner drinks in front of the fireplace. She wondered how she was supposed to have the impossibly beautiful post-divorce life she imagined in this basic, two bedroom ranch.