Breathing Again - Lynda L. Fulton

She had perfected the art of survival, Robin believed.

She spent fifteen years in a marriage based on control rather than love, where emotional manipulation left no visible wounds, and excuses took the place of responsibility. Robert was pleasant, well-liked, and respected. What took place behind closed doors remained hidden. And Robin recognized that survival was no longer sufficient when he eventually physically pushed her too far.

She had to run.

What starts as a desperate flight develops into something far more potent: a path toward self-reliance, the truth, and the kind of healing that takes time to manifest. Robin gradually restores the life she thought was lost with the ferocious devotion of her lifelong companion Karen, the surprising protection of two strong grandmothers troubled by their own pasts, and the subdued reappearance of her artistic aspirations.

She runs a business in what was once a sanctuary in San Francisco. She faces the dread that prevented her from speaking. She must also determine whether she is prepared to trust herself enough to accept love when it resurfaces, gentle, patient, and honest.

Breathing Again is a moving tale of female solidarity, generational pain, emotional survival, and the bravery required to make your own decisions after years of disappearing.