Thirty-Eight Days Read Online Free

didn’t need to witness her fall from grace. Clara drew back her curtains and was met with the reality of her mess. In the light of day she saw a visible red wine stain on her rug. And the scattered chocolates had made their way to her window seat, some distance from the couch.
    Clara was surprised at the sight of her apartment. She prided herself on self-control, but the sight made her feel ashamed. She let her failed relationship get under her skin. She let him cheat on her, and she let herself crumble behind closed doors. All of it was truly her fault.
    Sighing, she started to pick up the pieces of white chocolate nut squares from the floor. They had never been her favourite, and she understood why they settled on the floor. She presumed an emotional fit of rage during her intoxicated state of mind had chocolates flying. As she stood up from the floor, Clara noticed what she had been watching last night. She cringed at the sight.
    Katherine Heigl… of course!
    27 Dresses was her go-to movie when she was upset. It had the right mix of heartbreak and happy ending. Clara winced at the thought that she probably belted out Bennie and the Jets along with Jane and Kevin. It seemed so fitting. Clara walked over to the kitchen and disposed of the chocolates in the bin. Returning to the living room, she collected the empty wine bottles and noodle boxes, placing them on the kitchen bench. As she glanced around her apartment, Clara was satisfied that it looked better than it did before.
    Alex would be home this time tomorrow and she could concentrate on spending time with her brother. Clara had missed him more than anything. The last time she saw Alex was when they met up last winter in Switzerland for their ski trip in the Alps.
    There were times where Clara wanted to desperately speak with him. But it always felt like an inappropriate time to call, and she knew Alex needed rest before flying out to Melbourne. She walked over to her bedroom and stood by the doorframe. Her room was painted a violet colour and her white French bed stood in the middle of the room against the wall. A window seat was on the opposite side of the bedroom door and a bookcase against the wall.
    Clara's room was significantly large for an apartment in the city. All she needed was the view from her room. Her window gave her a painting of the city and she loved to see the twinkle from the stars above on clear nights.
    Looking over at her bookcase, it held more pictures of her memories than it did books. A frame that sat in the middle was a shot of her and Alex taken the day he left for Stanford. A few other pictures of them from when she was younger, and one frame lay down flat. Clara knew what one it was. The memory flashed before her, the day they had a picnic out in the country, the day she thought she fell in love.
    No matter how many times she tried to move the frame, she couldn’t. She left it where it lay, not wanting to touch or remember the memories that came from the picture. There would be a day where she moved it, but not today. Walking to her vanity, Clara sat on the padded stool and noticed the time on the clock, she had slept in till one in the afternoon. Staring at her reflection, her smudged makeup and messy bed hair made her cringe. Not liking the image that greeted her, Clara stood up and decided it was finally time anew.

    Stepping out of the shower, Clara felt the warm water ease her mind and relax her body. Today was the first day of her new self. She had a life before Darren, and she was determined to find herself again. Walking over to her closet, she decided that she would dress the way she wanted to. Darren couldn’t dictate what outfit was appropriate and what wasn’t anymore, the choice was now hers. Clara searched through her closet until she found her short, pastel pink dress. The rosy dress was tight around her bust, but once it hit her hips it flared around her mid-thigh. She remembered the day she purchased it. Darren had