Freedom
I spent the next two nights at Zoe’s. When I returned Saturday afternoon, they were gone. Only the smell of mildew laundry and an empty cupcake wrapper remained.
The sale went through. Uncle Bob handed me a check that would change my life — $2 million. Enough to buy a cottage of my own, small and sunlit, filled with possibility.
On move-in day, as I stood on my new porch, my phone buzzed with a final message from Mom:
“You’ve ruined us. I hope you’re happy, you selfish monster.”
I blocked the number.
I looked around my little cottage, keys warm in my hand, and whispered to the air:
“Dad… I hope you’re proud. I finally stood up for myself.”
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