Chapter 2
Daniel did not speak at first.
That silence terrified me.
Because I knew his silence.
I had lived beside it for three years.
When Linda insulted my cooking, he stayed silent.
When she called my job “a hobby,” he stayed silent.
When she told relatives I was selfish for not giving her grandchildren yet, he stayed silent.
Then later, behind closed doors, he would apologize.
“She means well.”
“She’s old-fashioned.”
“She’s just protective.”
Protective.
That word had covered too many wounds.
Now my cheek burned.
My ticket lay shredded on the table.
My mother was in a hospital bed hundreds of miles away.
And Daniel was staring at Linda.
“Mom,” he said quietly. “Did you take Elena’s passport?”
Linda lifted her chin.
“She was being irrational.”
I laughed.
It came out broken.
“My mother is in critical condition.”
“You were running off in the middle of the night,” Linda snapped. “Like a girl with no responsibilities.”
Marcus looked at the torn ticket.
“You ripped her flight?”
Linda glared at him.
“Stay out of this.”
Robert finally stepped forward.
“Linda.”
She turned on him.
“Don’t start.”
His face tightened.
“She has a right to see her mother.”
Linda slammed her hand on the table.
“She is my son’s wife. Her place is here.”
I looked at Daniel.
His eyes were wet.
But still, he did not move.
So I moved.
I grabbed my passport, my bag, and my phone.
“I’m going to the airport.”
Linda blocked the doorway.
“You’re not leaving this house.”
I looked at her.
“Move.”
She smiled coldly.
“You think one little slap makes you brave?”
“No,” I said. “My mother dying does.”
Daniel stepped between us then.
Finally.
“Mom, move.”
Linda’s face changed.
“You would choose her over me?”
Daniel’s voice cracked.
“I’m choosing what’s right.”
“Too late,” I whispered.
He turned toward me.
“Elena…”
I walked past him.
He followed me to the front door.
“I’ll drive you.”
“No.”
The word hurt him.
Good.
Some pain teaches faster than comfort.
“I don’t have a ticket anymore,” I said. “So I need to fix what your mother destroyed.”
Marcus held up his phone.
“I already found a flight. Leaves in two hours. I’ll book it.”
Linda screamed his name.
Marcus ignored her.
Robert reached into his wallet and handed me cash.
“For a cab,” he said softly.
I stared at him.
He looked ashamed.
“I should have spoken sooner.”
“Yes,” I said.
Then I left.
Daniel followed me onto the porch.
Rain misted the street.
“Elena, please.”
I looked back once.
“You let her make me small for years.”
His face crumpled.
May you like
“She crossed a line tonight.”
“No, Daniel. Tonight I finally showed you where the line was.”
