Becoming her own didn’t happen in one brave decision.
It happened in quiet moments—
when no one was watching,
when no one was applauding,
when love stepped back and left her alone with herself.
⸻
Ava Montgomery woke up one morning and realized she didn’t know who she was without resistance.
For most of her life, she had been reacting.
Reacting to expectations.
Reacting to power.
Reacting to love.
Even when she had been bold, she had been pushing against something.
Now, there was nothing to push against.
No scandal.
No fight.
No urgent fire to put out.
Just… space.
And space demanded honesty.
⸻
She started running again.
Not for fitness.
For clarity.
Early mornings before campus woke up, Ava ran through quiet streets, breath syncing with footsteps, thoughts unraveling
