Outside, rain tapped softly against the windows.
This time, the house did not feel surrounded.
It felt empty in the best possible way—cleared of excuses, cleared of waiting, cleared of the sound of a promise I no longer needed anyone else to keep.
My son rested his head against my shoulder as I turned off the last light.
Ryan had believed that night would end with me going back to sleep.
Instead, it was the night I finally woke up.
