Chapter 10
Six months later.
Lily and I stood in the backyard of our new house.
It was small. Bright. Ours.
No one else's name on the deed. No one else's access to our accounts. No one else's hands on our future.
Lily ran across the grass, chasing a butterfly. Laughing. Loud. Free.
She hadn't flinched at loud noises in months. She hadn't woken up screaming from nightmares in weeks.
She was healing.
And so was I.
I'd used part of the insurance money to start a foundation.
*Safe & Found*.
For women like me. Women who had been targeted. Exploited. Hurt.
We provided legal help. Counseling. Safe housing. Financial education.
We helped them stand up. Fight back. Win.
My sister walked out onto the porch with two glasses of lemonade.
"She looks happy," she said, nodding at Lily.
"She is," I said. "We both are."
My sister squeezed my hand.
"You did this, Hannah. You saved yourself. You saved her. And now you're saving others."
I looked out at my daughter. At the sun on her face. At the way she ran without fear.
I thought about that day in the Walmart parking lot.
The slap. The taste of blood. The folder sticking out of Ethan's jacket.
That moment could have destroyed me.
It could have broken me.
Instead... it had freed me.
I had found my strength.
I had found my voice.
And I had found my purpose.
Lily ran over and threw her arms around my legs.
"Mommy! Can we get ice cream?"
I knelt down and hugged her tight.
"Absolutely, baby."
She took my hand and started pulling me toward the house.
I stood up. Looked at my sister. Smiled.
And for the first time in a long time...
I felt completely safe.
May you like
Completely loved.
Completely free.
