Florence, watching golden sunset light spread across the Arno River. I’d reserved one ticket, one room, and one peaceful week.
No arguments. No guilt. Nobody expecting me to pay for a vacation that excluded me.
My phone buzzed with another message from Dad.
We need to talk. Family shouldn’t end like this.
I gazed at the river and the glowing city beyond.
For years, I’d spent money trying to belong.
Now peace cost me nothing.
I deleted his message, raised my coffee, and smiled.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “OK.”
