Anne has just left her sister Julie's baby shower. She had a wonderful time, surrounded by laughter, joy, family, and friends. Although her sister and brother-in-law, Peter, haven't revealed the baby's gender yet, she knows they already know.
By accident, Julie stumbled upon the medical file and read it.
“All this mystery... It almost hurts not to know,” Anne thinks, smiling, amused by the unbearable suspense that Julie and Peter are putting everyone through.
As she distances herself from this festive day, a sweet melody of memories accompanies her. She takes the road home, a long 28 km drive through the countryside and mountains, her spirit light and joyful. Driving along, she smiles, reliving some conversations with her cousins, happy to have shared those moments with her grandparents. It was a memorable day.
She takes the pass road called “Hautbas,” easily identifiable by its sharp ascent followed by a rapid descent that requires braking. She knows this winding road well, but has never liked it. Usually, it was her fiancé who drove.
They broke up two months ago after he slapped her. He didn’t believe Anne when she explained that she had urgently stayed with her sister because Julie had suddenly lost blood. With her husband away on a business trip, Anne had spent time at the medical center and then helped her sister rest by making soup. Only after all that did she return home late at night. The road was difficult, shrouded in thick fog. The argument erupted; he still refused to believe her.
When she decided to stop responding to his incessant accusations, she headed to the bedroom, ready for bed. He followed her almost running and slapped her on both cheeks before returning to the living room. Anne, exhausted from her day and worried about her nephew or niece's health, said nothing and didn't move for several minutes. Finally, she took a shower and went to bed. She fell asleep instantly on her back, the pain from the slaps preventing her from turning. It was the first slap of her life at 31. It hurt outside and inside. Fortunately, she quickly found sleep.
For a few days, he has been trying to contact her, but she refuses all contact. They had been together for five years, but coming from an educated and respectful family, Anne tolerates no form of violence, not even once. That night, after the assault, she lay silently in bed while he shouted, begging for her forgiveness. In the morning, calm and determined, she returned the engagement ring, declaring: “You need to leave now. No discussion, no pity. Yes, there will be pain, but I will never tolerate this. Once is already too much.”
She surprised herself with how easily those words came out, without hesitation or regret. After five years of being together, she felt no sorrow as she uttered them. For two months now, she has been living without remorse. Sure, there are memories that awaken a certain sadness, but it is bearable.
Her family approved of the breakup, as violence is an unacceptable sin for them. Life is precious, and their values rest on love, communication, and family. Moreover, Anne's and Julie's family did not particularly like him, as he hardly worked; he preferred to stay at home. That’s not a problem in itself, but after two years of engagement and still no children, he had never shown the slightest willingness to set a wedding date. He also frequently disagreed with some beliefs that were important to Anne’s family.
While driving, she notices a car in the distance behind her. On this rarely traveled road, especially at this hour, it’s around 10 PM. Suddenly, she sees the reflections of the headlights, her only reference point in the darkness. The headlights indicate that the road will soon be straighter and less dangerous. She thinks about stopping to say hello to the lighthouse keeper, either Paul, the father, or his son Julien.
This lighthouse, located between Court Village and Chamile, has become a symbol for both communities. After losing their wife and mother, the two men have been allowed to remain lighthouse keepers of the Milou Lighthouse, watching over this place filled with memories for the villagers. Many residents often visit them, bringing treats and playing cards or dominoes. One of them is always awake, as their work requires constant presence. They may be the last lighthouse keepers at a time when everything is now automated. The lighthouse remains useful, but the keeper seems increasingly dispensable. It’s a sad realization.
She thinks this profession should be revalued, as in a world like ours, many would dream of a life as peaceful as this, near the sea. The sea air soothes, and the sound of the waves can help one relax. Water, although the most destructive element, has always needed watchers to signal dangers. Certainly, electronics can anticipate storms and other threats, but she believes there is a certain beauty in having a human still occupy this position, enjoying a life in harmony with the sea.
As she ponders all this, the car behind her gets closer. She tries to calm herself, telling herself it could be someone heading to Chamile or farther away. A journalist specializing in femicides, fear begins to envelop her. She imagines the terrifying scenarios she has often described.
She is also not reassured by the idea that her ex might be following her. The car behind her keeps getting closer, and she starts to panic. She knows a shortcut to reach the lighthouse by passing through the rocks and then the beach. She abandons her car by the roadside, even leaving the door open, and runs towards the path she knows well.
Frightened, she rushes down the rocks, the wind howling, muffling her steps. She hopes to escape her pursuer. With a quick glance behind her, she sees a man running after her. Checking her phone, she realizes: no reception. She is almost at the lighthouse. She knocks violently on the door to be heard.
Fortunately, Paul was just coming down from his daily maintenance at the top of the lighthouse. He opens the door, surprised by her panicked look. Before he can ask any questions, someone knocks again.
Anne, her face red and covered in sweat, fear visible in her eyes, struggles to catch her breath. Paul, alarmed, pulls her aside and calmly asks what’s going on. In a trembling voice, she quickly explains that she is terrified.
Trying to reassure her, Paul leads her to the kitchen, serves her a hot coffee, then goes back to open the door. A tall young man, at least two meters tall, stands before him, holding a license plate. He explains that the plate detached from the car that preceded him, crashing into his windshield and breaking it. He picked it up and followed the car to return it, but also to sort out the insurance details. Keeping his distance, he had noticed that the driver seemed frightened. When she stopped, he tried to call her, but the wind and the noise of the waves made his voice inaudible. Having seen her rush toward the lighthouse, he decided to knock on the door.
Paul bursts out laughing, followed by the young man, and soon Anne timidly emerges from her hiding place, first with an embarrassed smile, then she starts laughing as well, relieved by the turn of events. Everything calms down quickly. After filling out the insurance papers, they share a coffee, discussing various topics, enjoying this unexpected moment. It is already 2 AM, and everyone feels it’s time to leave.
Before parting, the young man and Anne exchange contacts on WhatsApp. With a kind smile, he offers to follow her home to ensure she arrives safely, noting that he lives just a few kilometers away. Anne gratefully accepts, and they prepare to hit the road again.
A New Life Begins
The next morning, as the sun rises over the sea, Anne wakes up with new energy. The events of the previous day remind her that there are still good people in this world. She takes a deep breath and promises herself not to let fear control her life any longer.
She gets up, makes herself a coffee, and takes a moment to reflect. The memories of her ex begin to fade, and the pain she felt gives way to a sense of freedom. Perhaps a new chapter of her life is finally opening.
She thinks about her work, her articles on violence against women, and how she can continue to raise public awareness. She feels ready to invest even more in her projects.
The day looks bright, and she is determined to live it fully, without regret or fear. Looking at herself in the mirror, she says: “A new Anne is rising today.”
In fact, she never called the lighthouse giant, nor did he call her.
Almost six months later, on a simple and rare day without appointments, she decides to relax at home. The television is on, just to listen to the news, which she usually follows on the radio. Suddenly, she hears that there is an emergency: a serial killer wanted for three years has finally been captured. They show the man. It was the lighthouse giant. She can’t help but laugh and cry, feeling blessed and saved by her instinct. He could have killed her.
Everything moves quickly in her thoughts. She calls her boss and tells her she knows this man, briefly explaining that she absolutely wants to be the journalist in charge of this story. In her mind, everything spins, ready to open this project and start an article that will make a splash.
Stay tuned for the next issue...
Véro Infini
The exercise consists of writing a nighttime scene on a winding road, where a woman is being pursued by a man. She spots a lighthouse through the fog. First, you need to write this scene from a third-person perspective, then from a first-person perspective, adding details and dialogue to enrich the narrative.
Day 9 with the-artist-academy.fr and Bernard Minier, a French author specializing in thrillers. I haven't read his work yet, but after visiting his website (bernard-minier.com), I became very intrigued by his stories. Although I'm not usually a big reader of thrillers, I've read a few that I considered among the best, giving them "Giant" and "5 Stars" ratings. So, one of his thrillers is now on my wish list.
#SummerEvening #NewBeginnings #WomenEmpowerment #BreakingFree #LoveAndCourage #FeminismInLiterature #DomesticViolenceAwareness #LifeAfterAbuse #LighthouseStories #StrengthInAdversity
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