Chapter 15 - Letting Go
Later that night, Ryan walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. He stood by the kitchen island, the moonlight streaming through the windows, illuminating the white marble floor.
He closed his eyes and allowed himself to remember the scene from a year ago. The scattered orange pills. The fear in his son's eyes. The horrific bruise on his wife's face. The stinging impact of his hand against his mother's cheek.
For a long time, that memory had brought nothing but shame and a racing heartbeat. But tonight, in the quiet serenity of his home, it just felt like a distant chapter in a closed book.
May you like
He finally understood Dr. Evans's words. He had been thrust into an impossible, violent situation, and he had done exactly what was necessary to protect his world. He was not his mother. He was not a violent man. He was a father, a husband, and a protector.
Ryan opened his eyes, feeling lighter than he had in twelve months. He turned off the kitchen light and walked down the hall toward his bedroom, leaving the ghosts of the past exactly where they belonged: in the dark, far behind him.
