Chapter 10: What Comes After
Ryan was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.
Linda received eight years.
Neither of them would be getting out anytime soon.
After the sentencing, I went back to my apartment and sat alone for a long time. I thought about everything that had happened — the baby I lost, the years I spent hiding, the revenge I had carefully planned, and the justice that had finally been served.
I didn’t feel happy.
But I felt lighter.
For three years, my entire life had revolved around bringing Ryan and Linda down. Now that it was over, I had to figure out who I was without that mission.
One evening, I received a letter from Ryan.
It was short.
“I know you hate me. I know I deserve it. But I want you to know that I’m sorry. I was weak. I let my mother control me. I hope one day you can forgive me.”
I read it once, then threw it away.
I didn’t hate Ryan anymore.
I just didn’t care.
He and Linda had taken so much from me — my baby, my safety, my trust. But they hadn’t taken my future.
And now, for the first time, that future was completely mine.
I didn’t know what came next. Maybe I would stay in this city. Maybe I would move somewhere new. Maybe I would meet someone who could love me without trying to destroy me.
But whatever happened, I knew one thing for certain:
May you like
I had survived.
And I had won.
