Susan peered out of her room's window as the sun began its descent, her heart beating faster with every passing moment. Packed bags sat nearby, and her stomach fluttered with nerves.
"I'm scared," she whispered, sinking into a rocking chair, arms wrapped around her knees. She started swaying back and forth, breaths coming in irregular bursts. "What if I just bail?" she mused.
Amidst her turmoil, a wild thought crossed her mind—calling Tayler. But the memory of what he'd done to her family crashed in, and she sighed, disheartened. Minutes ticked away, each one tightening the knot in her throat.
"Ready?" Grace asked, entering her daughter's room.
"Nervous," Susan confessed, eyeing her mom with anguish, but, as always, her mother brushed it aside.
"No nerves!" she declared. "Your boyfrie
