Ariana POV
I leaned my forehead against the cool car window, watching the familiar world blur past. For the first time in a long time, my chest wasn’t heavy. The fear was still there—soft, distant—but something louder had taken its place.
Determination.
I talked. I finally said the things I was scared to say. I named what happened to me. It didn’t fix everything, but it felt like taking my first real breath.
“You seem lighter,” Elijah said gently, glancing at me.
I smiled, a real one. “I am. It was… good.”
“I’m happy for you, Ari.”
The car rolled into the long driveway leading to the farmhouse. The sunset washed everything in warm orange, turning the brick walls almost gold. For the first time today, I didn’t look at the door hoping to see Alex. My attention was on me—my life, my ne
