By afternoon, she had a plan. She found a temporary position as a receptionist at a local law firm, which wasn’t ideal but would keep her afloat. The pay was modest, but it was a start. Emma had also scheduled a viewing for a tiny studio apartment on the edge of the city. It was far from luxurious, but it was hers if she wanted it — a place where she could begin to rebuild her life on her terms.

Over the next few weeks, the transition wasn’t easy. The first few nights in the studio were lonely and cold, the kind of silence she wasn’t used to after years in a bustling household. But gradually, Emma found solace in the small freedoms she had never had—decorating the space to her liking, playing her favorite music as loud as she wanted, and cooking meals that she enjoyed.