Morgan could see Bella was sad. They had been together since the day they met. “Hey,” Morgan said. Bella looked at her. “Sisters forever,” Morgan signed. It was their thing. It was what they did when they needed each other.

Bella returned the sign. “Sisters forever.”

“Now, help me get some of these boxes in the car,” Morgan said.

“Why? Daddy got Messiah and Isa downstairs already to move all your stuff,” Bella said.

“What?” Morgan exclaimed.

“Yep. So, we don’t have to do any work,” Bella stated.

Morgan gave a half smile. “I’ll have plenty of work you can help me do when we get to my new place,” she teased. “What you can do now is make sure Messiah and Isa don’t break any of my stuff. You’re in charge.”

“Where are you going?” Bella asked.

“I’m going to drive ahead of everyone. I still need to sign my new lease and get my key,” Morgan explained. The truth was, she was running. She didn’t want to face Messiah or even be in his vicinity. She grabbed her handbag and rushed down the stairs.

“I’m headed up to sign my lease. I’ll see you there!” she shouted to Ethic, as she rushed out the house.

She didn’t even wait for his response. She was already out the door.

It only took Morgan an hour to get to the college town. Since she was joining so late in the year, she couldn’t stay on campus, so Ethic was financing her an apartment close by. If she kept her GPA strong, he would do so until she graduated. As soon as she got her key and opened the door to her new place, all the heaviness she felt, all the sadness, all the drama dissipated. This was her chance to do something with her life and to put the ghosts that followed her in Flint to rest. She was no longer afraid to face the world by herself because she was just like everyone else. She had been through hell and back, but this felt like a chance to make a new life; one where she wasn’t the poor, little, deaf orphan.

Ethic showed up first with Bella and Eazy in tow. He was nothing less than the proud father. He had raised her, and she could see he was trying his hardest to keep his emotions in check.

“This is so dope! I’m coming to visit you every weekend,” Bella said, as she looked around in amazement.

“I’m going to hold you to that. I don’t have any friends here, so I’m going to need your company,” Morgan said, laughing.

“Where is all your furniture?” Eazy asked, as he did cartwheels in her bare living room.

“It’ll be delivered sometime today,” Morgan answered. “Are you going to come visit me too?”