Aria

I couldn’t stop staring at my bank account.

This was… new.

All at once, a number that used to feel like a distant fantasy now sat right in front of me. I’ve been saving for years, hustling through inflation, skipping coffees, dodging plans, and still, I’ve never had this much sitting idly in my name.

I sat at the dining table, tearing into a roasted chicken like a woman possessed, scrolling through social media with one greasy thumb.

It had been so long since I felt safe ...