"The car's here… Shall we leave?" Jeffrey peeked into the room, his voice soft but full of quiet excitement.
Joanne turned toward him, a gentle smile lifting her lips. "Yeah," she said, brushing a hand over her dress as she walked to him.
She was ready—at least that's what she kept telling herself. A new chapter awaited her, and though not all her battles were over, there was comfort in knowing she didn't have to fight them alone anymore. For the next few days, she could breathe. No chores calling her at dawn, no orders to check, no worries weighing down her chest. Just peace.
That was the promise.
Still… the farm girl in her already missed her responsibilities. The rhythm of her life—the routines, the animals, the quiet mornings—had become so ingrained in her that breaking free from it felt like leaving a piece of herself behind.
