CHAPTER 14: THE SURPRISE
A few months later, I got a call from my lawyer.
"Sarah, you're going to want to hear this."
"What is it?"
"Daniel died in prison. Heart attack. He was found in his cell this morning."
I felt nothing.
No sadness. No relief. Just emptiness.
"Okay," I said.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. But he wasn't my loss."
I hung up and sat down.
Daniel was gone.
Megan was in prison.
And I was free.
I thought about all the years I had wasted trying to make him happy. All the nights I had cried. All the times I had apologized for things that weren't my fault.
And I felt grateful.
Grateful that I had escaped.
Grateful that I had survived.
Grateful that I had found a new life.
I walked into the living room and sat down beside James.
"Daniel is dead," I said.
He was quiet for a moment.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said. "I think I've been fine for a long time."
He took my hand and held it.
May you like
"I'm glad you're free."
"Me too."
