Resilience and Retribution

The biting scent of citrus floor cleaner stung Celeste’s nose. She sat back on her heels, swiping a damp forearm across her sweaty brow. A full week had dragged by since the agonizing mating farce, and her life had settled into a grueling, relentless rhythm. She scrubbed endless stretches of hardwood floors, dusted towering bookshelves, and tackled mountains of heavy laundry. The physical labor dr