Chapter 4 - The Final Break
The police arrived at dusk.
Blue lights flashed.
Against the walls.
They didn't look gentle.
They looked prepared.
Patricia held her purse.
A clutch of despair.
Daniel stood by the door.
He looked at me.
For the last time.
He saw the woman.
He had ignored.
He saw the strength.
He had underestimated.
“I did love you,” he said.
A whisper of regret.
“I know,” I replied.
“But you loved her.”
“And you loved greed.”
“More than me.”
He nodded slowly.
He walked out.
Into the night.
Into the law.
I stood in the hall.
The house was mine.
Quiet.
Empty.
I walked to the kitchen.
The caviar was there.
I picked up the jar.
I walked to the bin.
I dropped it in.
Black pearls.
Cheap lies.
I felt a smile.
True and honest.
The first in years.
I went to the office.
I shredded the notes.
The ugly history.
I was finished.
The past was burned.
The future was open.
I grabbed my coat.
I turned the key.
I stepped out.
The air was fresh.
Cool and sweet.
I was Claire.
Just Claire.
No wife of a cheat.
No daughter of a thief.
Just a woman.
Standing in the light.
I walked to the road.
I left it all.
The house.
The files.
The pain.
I started the car.
I chose a direction.
Away from the store.
Away from the lies.
I drove fast.
Under the stars.
The road was long.
And it was mine.
The story was over.
The life began.
May you like
I was ready.
For everything.
