But she couldn’t stop me. I grabbed my phone, slamming the front door and putting a blessed stop to her arguing. God, some days I couldn’t stand her. It tore me apart, because for so long, I’d done everything with her. I’d hung on to her every word. I’d thought she was so beautiful and fierce. A strong, capable person.

Then I realized it wasn’t strength I was seeing; it was the ability to make others feel weak so she could control them. She could put someone down over weeks and months, chipping away at them until they bent to her will.

But not me. Not anymore. I was so done with this place. I could see the New York City skyline whenever I closed my eyes, waiting for me to get there.

Except…there were some things here I wasn’t done with. Not even a little bit.

Putting in my earbuds, I tucked my phone into the tight pocket on my armband. While it sucked not to have a car, my favorite cafe didn’t take very long to jog to. I hadn’t been able to finish my breakfast since Mom wouldn’t quit nagging me, and avoiding her meant I didn’t even go downstairs for lunch.

My stomach was growling with hunger as I ran through the neighborhood park. The trails here were nice, with large trees providing some shade. But the sky was filled with thick gray clouds today, although the heat was no less intense. The air felt so thick that I was drenched in sweat within a few minutes.

If only Mom knew the truth, if only she’d accept it without completely losing her temper. I had no friends left to speak of, but it was largely by my own choice. No one that I’d grown up knowing was still close to me. Not a single person I’d once called a friend was trustworthy.

No one except…

I slowed my jog as I neared the cafe, smiling as I pulled out my phone. Ashley Garcia had been my friend longer than anyone else I knew. We’d met in fourth grade and been inseparable ever since — at least until she landed her dream job and moved to New York without me. We had always been a lot alike, and although she was a gossip queen, she’d never made me feel like I risked our friendship by doing my own thing.

I gave her a call, and it was so good to hear her voice that I almost choked up. She was living her best single life, partying on the weekends and grinding hard at work during the week. She’d gotten a job as an advertising consultant and loved it nearly as much as she loved trying a new cocktail bar every night.