Chapter 10 - A NEW BEGINNING
Two years after the terrible night that changed our lives, Lily and I hosted a small backyard barbecue.
The sun was shining brightly, and the smell of grilled burgers filled the warm summer air.
Our new friends, neighbors, and my incredible lawyer, Sarah, were all gathered around the patio.
Lily was running through the green grass, laughing loudly as she chased a colorful butterfly.
I stood by the grill, watching her with a massive, genuine smile on my face.
Sarah walked over and handed me a cold glass of lemonade.
"I heard the news about your parents," Sarah said quietly, not wanting to ruin the mood.
"They officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this morning."
I took a slow sip of my drink, feeling absolutely nothing about the update.
"They made their choices," I replied simply.
"And Harrison?" she asked carefully.
"His latest appeal was completely denied by the state supreme court yesterday," I told her.
"He will be in that cage for another thirteen years."
Sarah smiled and clinked her glass gently against mine.
"To justice," she toasted.
"To a new life," I corrected her.
I looked back out at the yard, watching Lily spin around in the warm sunlight.
The dark clouds of my toxic family had finally been blown away forever.
I had spent my entire life begging wolves to love me.
But I finally realized that I didn't need their love at all.
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I was a fiercely protective mother bear, and nobody would ever hurt my cub again.
We were finally safe, we were completely free, and we were incredibly happy.
