Chapter 4 - The Clean Slate
The office was finished.
The building was ours.
Everything felt new.
I looked at the desk.
Photos of my life.
Real memories.
Not the fake ones.
I felt a peace.
Deep in my chest.
Dominic was in court.
The case was moving.
He had no chance.
The evidence was rock.
Solid and clear.
My father walked in.
He looked at the view.
“You did well,” he said.
“Better than well.”
I looked at him.
“I learned from you.”
“No,” he corrected.
“You learned from you.”
“You found your core.”
I sat in the chair.
It was mine now.
It felt right.
I had done it.
I had survived.
The storm was over.
The sun was bright.
I was not the victim.
I was not the loser.
I was the builder.
I was the victor.
The future was vast.
A blank, white page.
Waiting for ink.
Waiting for me.
I picked up the pen.
I started to draw.
New plans.
New dreams.
New goals.
It felt so good.
To finally be free.
The building was quiet.
The city was calm.
Everything was in place.
I walked to the door.
I looked back once.
A final goodbye.
To the old life.
To the bad memories.
To the Vance name.
I stepped to the lift.
I pushed the button.
The doors opened wide.
I stepped inside.
I pushed the ground.
The lobby was full.
But different now.
New energy.
New faces.
New spirit.
I walked to the street.
The air was crisp.
The walk was light.
I was happy.
Truly happy.
For the first time.
The divorce was real.
The loss was gone.
The gain was mine.
I walked to the car.
I started the engine.
I drove away.
The city was open.
The road was clear.
I was Ava Vance.
No, Audrey.
Audrey.
Just Audrey.
And that was enough.
I drove into the night.
The stars were out.
I was ready for life.
The story was over.
The life began.
May you like
I was ready.
For everything.
