New year, New man... me

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Escape Plan

(Tessy’s POV)

Silence. That thick, heavy kind of silence that makes your chest feel tight. The only sound is the slow rasp of the zipper as I pull it closed on the suitcase. Each tooth clicks into place, sharp and deliberate. It feels like I’m locking away every lie, every broken promise Jack ever fed me.

He’s still standing in the doorway, arms crossed, leaning on the frame like he’s waiting for me to look up, waiting for me to c***k.

But I don’t. Not this time.

“You really think you’re better off without me, huh?” Jack’s voice is sharp, but there’s something under it. Something ugly. A threat disguised as a question.

I don’t answer. Not because I’m scared, but because I’m done. Done explaining myself. Done justifying why I deserve peace.

I lift the suitcase off the bed and set it on the floor. It’s heavier than I thought, but I manage.

Jack steps forward, his footsteps slow, deliberate. "Where are you even gonna go, Tess? Huh?" He laughs, but it’s not a real laugh. It’s the kind people use when they’re trying to hide their anger. "You got family to run to? Friends? You think they’re gonna take you in with no warning?"

I turn to face him then, my eyes locked on his. "I’ll figure it out." My voice is steady, calm.

His smile vanishes. His eyes narrow, his head tilting just a little. “That’s cute,” he says quietly, his voice like a knife sliding over stone. “Real cute.”

I step past him, pulling my suitcase behind me. He doesn’t move. Just stands there, watching me like I’m some puzzle he’s trying to solve.

"You think you’re brave now," he mutters as I walk by. "But you’ll be back, Tess. You always come back.”

I pause at the front door, fingers on the handle. For a second, his words settle on my shoulders like old weight. But I shrug them off. I twist the handle and pull the door open.

"Not this time, Jack," I say without turning around.

I hear him scoff behind me, but I don’t look back. Not this time.

—

The cold air bites at my face as soon as I step outside. It smells fresh, crisp, like the world is offering me something new. My breath puffs in front of me, small clouds that disappear as fast as they form.

The streetlights hum overhead, casting a soft glow on the quiet street. It’s past midnight, and everything feels frozen in place. No cars passing. No footsteps. Just me, my suitcase, and the quiet.

I pull my phone from my coat pocket, fingers trembling from the cold — or maybe from everything I’m feeling inside.

I stare at the screen, the glow lighting up my face. Who do I call?

My mom? No, she’s too far. She’d worry herself sick, and I don’t want that right now.

Sasha. My best friend. The one person who’s seen me at my worst and never judged me for it. I scroll to her name, my thumb hovering over the call button.

She’s probably asleep. It’s late.

But I press it anyway.

The line rings twice before I hear a click.

“Tess?” Sasha’s voice is groggy but alert, like she’s ready to jump out of bed if I need her. “What’s wrong?”

My throat tightens. I haven’t cried all night, but hearing her voice makes something c***k inside me.

“I left him, Sasha,” I say, my voice a little more shaky than I want it to be. I clear my throat. “I’m done this time.”

There’s silence on the other end, but not the bad kind. The kind where you know someone’s listening — really listening.

“Good,” she finally says, her voice firm. “Good. Where are you?”

“Outside the apartment,” I reply, rubbing my hand over my face. My eyes are stinging, but I keep it together. “I don’t know where to go.”

“Come here,” she says instantly. No hesitation. “I’ll buzz you in.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. "Thanks, Sash."

“You don’t have to thank me, girl,” she says, and I hear the sound of sheets rustling like she’s sitting up in bed. “Take a cab, I’ll cover it.”

I almost tell her no, but I stop myself. It’s okay to accept help sometimes.

“Okay,” I say softly. “I’m on my way.”

—

The cab ride to Sasha’s apartment is quiet, just the hum of tires on pavement and the faint buzz of the radio playing some old R&B song. I stare out the window, watching the city roll by. People don’t think much of cities at night, but to me, they look different — quieter, rawer, like everything has been stripped down to its bones.

I lean my head against the glass, feeling the cold seep through. My mind drifts. Images of Jack flash behind my eyes. His smile, his voice, his promises.

"You’ll be back."

I close my eyes tight, forcing his voice out of my head. He’s wrong. I’m not going back.

The cab pulls up in front of Sasha’s building, and I spot her on the steps, wrapped in a big gray hoodie, arms folded against the cold. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun, and she’s squinting into the night like she’s looking for me.

When she sees me, she waves both hands in the air. "There she is!" she calls out, a big grin on her face like she just spotted a celebrity.

I feel a laugh bubble up in my chest, unexpected and warm.

I pay the cab driver and step out, dragging my suitcase behind me. Sasha rushes over, throwing her arms around me like she hasn’t seen me in years. I hug her back, my face pressed into her hoodie. She smells like lavender and safety.

“About time, Tess,” she says, squeezing me tight. "I’ve been waiting for this day.”

I pull back, wiping at my eyes quickly. "Don’t get all emotional on me now."

She smirks, linking her arm with mine as she pulls me toward the building. "Girl, please. You deserve a whole parade for walking away from that mess.”

Her words feel like warm sunlight on my skin.

—

Sasha’s apartment is small but cozy. The living room has mismatched pillows on the couch and half-burnt candles on every surface. It smells like vanilla and sage. Her cat, Bean, hops onto the armrest and eyes me like I’m an intruder.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I mutter, sliding my suitcase near the wall.

Sasha plops onto the couch, patting the space beside her. “Sit. You look like you’ve been through war.”

I sit, sinking into the cushions with a sigh. My body feels heavy now, every muscle unwinding at once.

“So,” Sasha says, turning to face me, her legs tucked under her. “Tell me everything.”

I shake my head slowly, leaning back. "Not tonight, Sash. I just… I’m tired.”

Her face softens, her eyes full of that big sister energy she’s always had. She nods. “Okay. Tomorrow, then.”

We sit there for a while, saying nothing. Bean hops onto my lap, curling into a ball like he’s known me forever. My fingers stroke his fur absentmindedly, the soft rhythm pulling me further into calm.

“I’m proud of you, Tess,” Sasha says quietly, her voice soft but certain. “I know how hard that was.”

Tears sting the corners of my eyes, but this time, I let them fall. I don’t hide them. I don’t bottle them up. I let them fall freely, each one a piece of weight I no longer have to carry.

“I’m proud of me too,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Finally.”

Sasha leans her head on my shoulder, and for the first time in a long time, I feel safe.

I’m not sure what comes next. I’m not sure how long it’ll take to rebuild everything Jack broke. But for now, I’m here. I’m safe. And that’s enough.