Safe.

“I’m here,” I whispered.

Ryan shouted as they arrested him.

Claire screamed.

“She always had everything!”

And finally, I understood.

This wasn’t just greed.

It was years of jealousy.

Hidden. Growing.

Deadly.

Months later…

I was still healing.

Physically. Emotionally.

But every time I opened my eyes—

Ethan was there.

My will protected him.

Ryan and Claire lost everything.

In court, they turned on each other.

And justice came.

I never looked back.

I moved to a small house.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

Ethan planted a tree.

“So it grows with you, Mom.”

Sometimes, I’m still afraid.

But then he asks:

“Mom… are you still here?”

And I answer:

“Yes, baby. I’m still here.”

Because sometimes—

people try to bury you too early.

But sometimes—

you come back.