The drive to Grandma’s estate felt longer than it should have, or maybe it was just me.

By the time the gates of her estate opened, I had already convinced myself of two things: one, I had officially failed at everything I had set out to do; and two, Ruby deserved so much better than me.

Ruby, on the other hand, was very excited to see grandma. “Mommy, look! It’s so big! And the flowers, oh, there’s so beautiful!” she said, pointing to the garden.

I tried to smile for her sake, but heart kept pounding. She had no idea how close I’d come to breaking completely.

The moment we stopped, Ruby unbuckled herself and practically ran out, running toward the wide porch.

“Ruby, slow down!” I called, unbuckling my own seatbelt.

Grandma was at the door, her arms spread ready to give her a hug.

Ruby hugged her quickly and for a moment, it felt like nothing bad had ever touched our lives.

“My sweet girl,” Grandma laughed, kissing Ruby’s cheeks, “you’ve grown taller since I last saw you! What are they feeding you in that city?" She said. What of Russ?" She asked

“Cookies,” Ruby answered. “And sometimes cake. And Russ is with dad Grandma."

They both laughed, and I just stood there, holding back my tears.

When Grandma finally looked up and saw me, she finally said “Alessia.” She said my name like it was both a question and an answer.

“Hi, Grandma. "I responded, and that was all it took. Suddenly, I was in her arms, and for a few seconds, I allowed myself to breathe.

***

Inside, the estate was exactly as I remembered it, it felt like I was finally home something I didn't feel anywhere else.

Ruby went from room to room.

She squealed when she discovered the old piano, then again when she found the basket of knitted blankets by the fireplace.

“Can we stay forever?” she asked as she turned to me.

"We’ll see, sweetheart.” I responded.

Grandma looked at me, reading me the way she always did.

She didn’t ask right away, though.

Instead, she settled Ruby with a plate of her famous butter cookies and then guided me into the sitting room.

The tea set was already waiting.

Of course, it was—Grandma had a way of knowing what I needed before I knew it myself.

She poured me a cup.

“Tell me,”She said gently, “what really happened.”

I wanted to lie.

To pretend everything was fine.

But the words refused to form.

Instead, tears spilled over, and I pressed the cup down before I dropped it.

“I left, Grandma. I couldn't stay anymore. It was hell."

Grandma wasn't surprised.

She didn’t look shocked or angry.

She just reached across the table and held my hand softly. “Good.”

I was stunned, surprised even. “Good?”

“Yes, good. I don’t need to know the details to know my granddaughter doesn’t walk away unless there’s no other choice." She paused. "And if you walked away, Alessia, then I know it was the right thing to do.”

That should have made me feel better, but I still felt guilt “I feel like a failure. Like I couldn’t hold it together. Ruby deserves—”

“Ruby deserves a mother who survives,” Grandma interrupted “Not one who stays in a cage pretending to be happy. You were never meant to be a housewife in someone else’s mansion, Alessia. That was never your destiny.” She continued. "And what of Russ?"

It was the way she said it, like she knew something I didn’t.

“He chose Elora, he chose to stay" i replied. "And also, what do you mean?” I asked softly.

She smiled," You’ll understand one day. For now, just know your mother would be proud. She was a fighter too.”

****

Ruby came skipping back in, “Grandma says I can feed the ducks tomorrow!” she said.

I wiped her face and kissed her forehead. “That sounds wonderful, baby.”

For the first time in weeks, she looked genuinely happy.

That should have been enough to calm me down, but I still felt Rowan’s presence.

My phone rang on the table, and when I looked down, it was Him.

My heart dropped. For a split second, I almost answered. Almost.

But then I saw Ruby playing in the middle of the room, her laughter echoing against the.

I saw Grandma watching me.

And I pressed “ignore.”

The phone rang again. Then again.

“Persistent,” Grandma murmured.

“He doesn’t like being ignored.” I responded.

“Then ignore him harder.”

It should have been that simple, but it wasn’t.

I became even more scared as the phone kept on ringing, every call a reminder of how he treated me and who he was to me.

I placed my hand on the screen.

But for the first time, I didn’t give in.

Hours passed like that, he called, sent even more texts, and loads of voicemails

I silenced the phone, pretending it didn’t exist.

Pretending I could live without him.

*****

When it was night, I found myself standing in the guest room window, staring out at the garden.

I picked up my phone out of habit.

No new calls—probably because I’d finally blocked him.

I exhaled.

Maybe Grandma was right.

Maybe I had done the right thing.

But just as the thought settled, the screen lit up again.

Not a call. A message.

Unknown Number: “You think you can run, Alessia? You think I’ll just let you go?”

Another message followed.

Unknown Number: “Answer me, or I’ll come find you myself.”

I paused, my heart pounding.

My fingers, shaking as I held the phone, staring at the words like they might vanish if I blinked.

They didn’t.