Chapter 11N
R
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.”
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.
“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
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
known.
ever
The young guys she introduced me to were full of energy, full of life–it reminded me what it felt like 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 to the visa office–because if you’re to see the world, you’ve got to do the paperwork.
I started learning how to snag cheap flights. My next stop? Solaria.
There was no end date to this journey.N
Yet, even as I was sweating it out across the globe, stories of Bruno and Nelly’s chaotic drama still found their way to me.“]
going
Word got back to me that my son and his little family actually moved into Nelly’s place. Didn’t even last a few days before she couldn’t take it anymore.
It got so bad, they ended up involving the police. Guess the family reunion didn’t go quite how they pictured it.”
Not long after, my son started calling again–crying, yelling, going on about how miserable and regretful he was. I listened quietly. Then I hung up.
I didn’t care. I knew the only reason he wanted me back was to play maid and nanny for free again.”
He never cared when I was the one suffering. So no–I wasn’t about to turn around and serve him like a workhorse again.”
He was grown now. No longer a child. And grown people need to live with the consequences of their own choices.}
When the money from the house came through, I didn’t look back–I looked forward. I made plans.
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.N
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)
