(Lena)
I stayed in my room a few minutes after the call ended.
Not because I needed more time to think about what I agreed to. That part was already done. The decision settled easier than I expected once I finally said it out loud. What stayed with me instead was the feeling underneath it.
Relief.
Real relief.
Not the kind that disappeared after five minutes and turned back into stress again. Something steadier than that. For the first time in a long time, it actually felt like my life was moving somewhere instead of sitting trapped inside the same miserable cycle with Brad and Jade.
I grabbed my bag from the bed and headed for the door without slowing down again.
The house stayed quiet while I walked downstairs.
Good.
I didn’t need another conversation before work, and I definite
