“Free,” Hannah repeated, smiling widely. Freedom was something you really didn’t think about unless you lost it. And then it was the only thing that mattered. She caught sight of Norman’s car and came close to running down the courthouse steps so that she could climb in beside him, but she wasn’t entirely sure that her legs would hold her. Instead, she walked quickly down the steps and made her way to the curb. Her heart was still racing with the remnants of fear and she didn’t completely relax until she was seated next to Norman in the passenger seat.

“Oh, Norman!” Hannah exclaimed, throwing her arms around him and giving him a big kiss. “You really are my hero! Let’s go to your house.”

Norman pulled her closer and kissed her soundly. And then he chuckled.

“Why are you laughing?” Hannah asked him.

“If I’d only realized that all it took was five thousand dollars and a couple of signatures on some papers, I would have done this a long time ago!”

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