I started the car, my heart steady, my resolve firm. I had plans of my own—different plans, plans that did not include being an afterthought in someone else’s story. As I drove away, leaving Ethan to grapple with the consequences of his choices, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.
Though the road ahead was uncertain and the path uncharted, it was mine to explore. And for the first time in a long time, I felt free.
