Chapter 11
My son looked at me with eyes bloodshot, like he wanted to tear me apart right there.
I just looked at him calmly and asked, “If you don’t care whether I forgive you or not, then why are you so worked up? If she’s so good to you, go ask her for help. Don’t come crawling back to me.” “From today on, I don’t have a son. I’m respecting your choice. From now on, you’re Nelly’s son. Got a problem? Take it to her.”
Because I knew Nelly. She was generous with the small stuff. But the second she had to carry real weight? That was a whole different story.
As I turned to leave, I heard him scream behind me, “You’re gonna regret this!”
I almost laughed. I knew one thing for sure-regret wasn’t mine to carry.
Once I had wrapped up everything back home, Judith got in touch again. I went to visit her city and she opened a door to a world I’d never known.
The young guys she introduced me to were full of energy, full of life-it reminded me what it felt ike to be young again, if only for a little while.
After a few days together, I started mapping out a whole new life for myself. Made a few trips tc he visa office-because if you’re going to see the world, you’ve got to do the paperwork.
started learning how to snag cheap flights. My next stop? Solaria.
“here was no end date to this journey.
‘et, even as I was sweating it out across the globe, stories of Bruno and Nelly’s chaotic drama till found their way to me.
Vord got back to me that my son and his little family actually moved into Nelly’s place. Didn’ ven last a few days before she couldn’t take it anymore.
t got so bad, they ended up involving the police. Guess the family reunion didn’t go quite how hey pictured it.
Not long after, my son started calling again-crying, yelling, going on about how miserable and egretful he was. I listened quietly. Then I hung up.
didn’t care. I knew the only reason he wanted me back was to play maid and nanny for free Igain.
He never cared when I was the one suffering. So no-I wasn’t about to turn around and serve him ike a workhorse again.
He was grown now. No longer a child. And grown people need to live with the consequences of heir own choices.
When the money from the house came through, I didn’t look back-I looked forward. I made
ǝlans.
To see the northern lights in Iskaveld. To watch the great migration in Tanzara. To wander into parts of the world I’d only seen in books.
It wasn’t until I stepped out of that cramped little house, away from the family that used to bark orders at me like I was a servant, that I finally realized…
The world was huge and its sparkles were bright.
I wasn’t going back. Not now. Not ever.
I had places to be. I was finally headed toward a life worth living.
A bigger, brighter, freer life.
(The End)
