Chapter 8 · I Came Home, They Had A New Daughter

I got to the hotel and checked in.

The receptionist looked at me with curiosity and a hint of sympathy, but I was way past caring about other people's stares.

I handed over my driver's license, took the room key, and went upstairs.

The room was small, but it was clean and cozy.

I set my suitcase down on the floor, not in any hurry to unpack.

I stood by the window, gazing at the warm glow of countless homes outside.

This town was once my hometown, the place I knew like the back of my hand.

But now, it felt more alien to me than any place I'd ever wandered through.

I pulled out my phone and, without really thinking, opened WhatsApp.

My mom's messages were still there, and now there were a few more texts besides the voice notes. [Jess, please pick up the phone. Your dad and I have known we messed up. Come home and let's talk this out.]

Mom: [Did you go to Aunt Jenna's place? We'll come get you.]

Mom: [Please reply to us. If you keep ignoring us, I'm going to lose my mind.]

I didn't reply. Instead, I opened up my dad's chat.

No new message. He hadn't sent me anything.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Figured. In his mind, I was his rebellious daughter, probably unforgivable to him now.

I set my phone down and walked into the bathroom.

I turned on the hot water, letting the steam rise and blur my vision.

I took off my clothes and stepped under the shower.

The warm water poured down from above, washing away the exhaustion in my body and the ache inside me.

Tears slipped quietly down my cheeks once again.

This time, it wasn't because I was angry or hopeless. It was this overwhelming, unexplainable feeling of being upset.

I couldn't help but wonder why things with my parents had to turn out like this, why it had to be me who ended up like this, and why I was the one falling apart.

The love I believed in turned out to be so fragile.

After the shower, my body felt lighter, but the emptiness inside got worse.

I put on the hotel bathrobe and flopped onto the bed.

The bed was soft and comfortable.

But I couldn't sleep.

My mind kept replaying everything that happened tonight.

The shock and panic on my parents' faces, Camille's hurt and innocent look, and the way I'd cut them off with that final, resolute line.

Did I really cut all ties with them?

I didn't know.

All I knew was that right now, I felt more lost than ever before.

I lay in bed and closed my eyes.

In the darkness, I seemed to see another me who'd been in a big city alone, hustling, grinding, doing whatever it took, so I could help support my parents.

The me who always called home with good news, never letting them know how tough things really were, and always wanted to surprise my parents every time I came home.

But now, that part of me had been shattered by everything that happened tonight.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

I was Jessica Foley, twenty-eight years old.

I was my parents' only child.

Now, I was a "rebel" daughter, no home, no family to rely on, completely on my own.

I had no idea what the future held.

But I knew that from this moment forward, everything in my life would change for good.

I'd finally live for myself.

I was going to chase after my own happiness, no more living for my parents, no more living for anyone else's expectations.

I sat up, reached into my suitcase, and took out my treasured journal and pen, things I'd kept for years.

I needed an outlet, somewhere to pour out my feelings and untangle my thoughts.

I opened the journal and began to pour out everything that happened today, from lying about not coming home for Christmas Eve, to sneaking back, to opening the door and seeing Camille, and in the end, running away from home.

I poured all my pain, anger, and sense of being wronged onto the tip of my pen.

When I finished writing, I felt my mind was a bit clearer.

Tomorrow was a new day.

I had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

But I knew I had to start over.

I needed to figure out who I really was now and find a fresh start that truly belonged to me.

Outside my window, the first pale light crept across the sky.

Dawn was quietly slipping in.

It not only brought the morning light, but also marked the start of a whole new chapter in my life.

Chapter 8

I got to the hotel and checked in.

The receptionist looked at me with curiosity and a hint of sympathy, but I was way past caring about other people's stares.

I handed over my driver's license, took the room key, and went upstairs.

The room was small, but it was clean and cozy.

I set my suitcase down on the floor, not in any hurry to unpack.

I stood by the window, gazing at the warm glow of countless homes outside.

This town was once my hometown, the place I knew like the back of my hand.

But now, it felt more alien to me than any place I'd ever wandered through.

I pulled out my phone and, without really thinking, opened WhatsApp.

Mom: [Did you go to Aunt Jenna's place? We'll come get you.]

Mom: [Please reply to us. If you keep ignoring us, I'm going to lose my mind.]

I didn't reply. Instead, I opened up my dad's chat.

No new message. He hadn't sent me anything.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Figured. In his mind, I was his rebellious daughter, probably unforgivable to him now.

I set my phone down and walked into the bathroom.

I turned on the hot water, letting the steam rise and blur my vision.

I took off my clothes and stepped under the shower.

The warm water poured down from above, washing away the exhaustion in my body and the ache inside me.

Tears slipped quietly down my cheeks once again.

This time, it wasn't because I was angry or hopeless. It was this overwhelming, unexplainable feeling of being upset.

I couldn't help but wonder why things with my parents had to turn out like this, why it had to be me who ended up like this, and why I was the one falling apart.

The love I believed in turned out to be so fragile.

After the shower, my body felt lighter, but the emptiness inside got worse.

I put on the hotel bathrobe and flopped onto the bed.

The bed was soft and comfortable.

But I couldn't sleep.

My mind kept replaying everything that happened tonight.

The shock and panic on my parents' faces, Camille's hurt and innocent look, and the way I'd cut them off with that final, resolute line.

Did I really cut all ties with them?

I didn't know.

All I knew was that right now, I felt more lost than ever before.

I lay in bed and closed my eyes.

In the darkness, I seemed to see another me who'd been in a big city alone, hustling, grinding, doing whatever it took, so I could help support my parents.

The me who always called home with good news, never letting them know how tough things really were, and always wanted to surprise my parents every time I came home.

But now, that part of me had been shattered by everything that happened tonight.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

I was Jessica Foley, twenty-eight years old.

I was my parents' only child.

Now, I was a "rebel" daughter, no home, no family to rely on, completely on my own.

I had no idea what the future held.

But I knew that from this moment forward, everything in my life would change for good.

I'd finally live for myself.

I was going to chase after my own happiness, no more living for my parents, no more living for anyone else's expectations.

I sat up, reached into my suitcase, and took out my treasured journal and pen, things I'd kept for years.

I needed an outlet, somewhere to pour out my feelings and untangle my thoughts.

I poured all my pain, anger, and sense of being wronged onto the tip of my pen.

When I finished writing, I felt my mind was a bit clearer.

Tomorrow was a new day.

I had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

But I knew I had to start over.

I needed to figure out who I really was now and find a fresh start that truly belonged to me.

Outside my window, the first pale light crept across the sky.

Dawn was quietly slipping in.

It not only brought the morning light, but also marked the start of a whole new chapter in my life.