**Sandi**
I stood alone in my new room, taking in the space that was now mine. To my surprise, it was much larger than I’d expected—spacious and almost luxurious. An en-suite bathroom with an adjoining laundry room separated it from the rest of the house, and I found relief in knowing there were no other doors into the bathroom. It was all mine. That small detail brought a strange comfort.
The twin bed was unmade, but I could see it was brand new—still crisp and pristine. A tall bookshelf caught my eye, and for a moment, I felt a pang of disappointment. I couldn’t bring my collection of books with me. The empty shelves reminded me how much I was leaving behind. There was a walk-in wardrobe, a decent-sized desk with a comfortable office chair, and a large flat-screen TV resting on a timbe
