Months passed, and I thrived. I built a circle of friends who valued me, who saw me, not as an accessory to someone else’s life but as a person with dreams and ambitions worth pursuing.

Back at the cabin, I imagined my parents’ shock at my disappearance. Maybe they would call, or perhaps they would write, demanding an explanation or another chance. But I knew that the distance I had created was necessary, not just for my sanity but for forging a life that was authentically mine.

As for Maria, I hoped that one day she would realize the world didn’t revolve around her. Perhaps she’d find her own path without relying on others to clear it for her.