“Take care of yourself, and take care of each other,” I murmured, pulling back to look at her one more time. “That’s what matters now.”
As I walked out of the bedroom with my suitcase in tow, I felt a strange sense of liberation. Harry looked up as I passed through the living room.
His face was a mix of relief and confusion. He hadn’t expected me to go through with it. I paused at the door, turning back to them both.
“Goodbye,” I said, not bothering to hide the sadness in my voice. Tiffany gave me a small, tearful nod. The spring air felt different as I stepped outside, closing the door on the life I’d known for so long.
I didn’t have a plan, but I had freedom and the knowledge that I was choosing my own path. A week passed, each day bringing a new sense of peace and possibility. It was a Sunday morning when I noticed the 22 missed calls on my phone—Tiffany’s name filling the screen.
I hesitated, my finger hovering over the call button. Then, with a deep breath, I pressed it and waited, unsure of what the future might hold but ready to face it.
