The man who used to ache at the slightest hint of my suffering, who would have taken every bruise onto his own body if he could—where had he gone?
Two people who had loved each other that deeply. How had it come to this?
Only in that moment did it finally hit me. Cinderella was never meant to become a princess.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed. Someone had cleaned and dressed the cuts on my face.
Seth spooned oatmeal to my lips, and the concern in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Something in my chest softened without warning. But before the feeling could take root, Zoe called, and just like that, he left.
My repaired phone sat on the nightstand. The screen lit up again. It was a message from the international firm I'd interviewed with.
"Congratulations. After careful review, you have been selected for the position. We sincerely invite you to join our team."
I typed back that I accepted the offer but needed a little time to handle some personal matters.
They agreed without hesitation.
Back at the house, I started packing, exhaustion weighing down every movement.
When I finished, I realized everything I owned fit into a single suitcase.