Chapter 4

When I got back from Midran, I found Lucas waiting for me downstairs at my apartment again. He'd been there all day.

As soon as he saw me dragging my suitcase, he rushed over.

"Hailey, where have you been? I've been looking for you for two weeks." Lucas's voice was tight with worry and anger. "Do you even know how much I've been freaking out?"

"I went on a trip," I said, brushing past him and heading upstairs.

"Alone?" Lucas followed me. "Hailey, are you out of your mind? It's crazy for a girl to go on a solo trip."

"I felt perfectly safe," I said, pressing the elevator button.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"Why should I?" I looked at him. "Lucas, we're already divorced."

"But we're supposed to get back together," Lucas insisted.

The elevator arrived, and I stepped inside.

Lucas came in right after me.

"Hailey, I don't understand why you're doing this. We could live happily together," Lucas said, holding the elevator doors so they wouldn't close. "Just tell me. What is it that you really want?"

I looked at the man I once loved so madly.

"I want freedom," I said.

"What do you mean? Wasn't life at Griffin Manor free for you? I gave you everything you wanted, and I'd go anywhere with you," Lucas said.

"Then why didn't you come with me to Midran?" I asked.

"I've just been busy," Lucas said, looking a little awkward. "Once work settles down, we'll go on that honeymoon, anywhere you want."

Oh, he meant I had to wait.

"Lucas, I don't want to wait anymore," I said, pressing the close button. "I want my freedom right now."

Back in my room, I started sorting through the photos from my trip.

Looking at the girl in the photos, smiling so brightly, I could hardly recognize myself.

When did I start feeling so trapped?

My phone buzzed. It was Victoria Terrell, my best friend.

"Hailey, are you back? I heard you and Lucas split up." Victoria sounded totally stunned.

"Yeah, we did," I said.

"Why? What happened?" Victoria pressed.

I gave her a quick rundown of everything that had happened lately.

Victoria was quiet for a long time, then finally said, "Hailey, I've been wanting to tell you this for a while, but I just didn't know how to say it."

"What is it?" I asked.

"I just feel like you're not really yourself anymore," Victoria said softly. "Do you remember how you were in college? You were so energetic and confident, but now—"

"Now what?" I asked.

"Now you're just the perfect Mrs. Griffin, but you're not really Hailey Potter anymore," Victoria said.

Victoria's words hit me where it hurt.

"Victoria, I need to see you," I said.

"On my way," Victoria replied.

An hour later, Victoria showed up at my apartment.

When she saw me, she froze for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Now that's the Hailey I remember."

We talked for hours, from our college days to the present, from dreams to reality.

"Hailey, do you remember what you wanted to do back in college?" Victoria asked.

I thought for a moment. "I wanted to be a journalist."

"That's right. You said you wanted to be a war correspondent, travel the world, and write stories that truly mattered," Victoria said, looking at me. "Do you still have that dream in your heart?"

I honestly didn't know.

All these years, I'd hidden my dream so deep that I almost forgot it existed.

"Hailey, I really think this divorce is a good thing for you," Victoria said, squeezing my hand. "Now you can finally get your life back."

What she said was plain and direct, yet for me, it felt like a brand-new beginning.

Victoria crashed at my place for the night.

We lay in bed and talked late into the night, just like we used to back in college.

"Hailey, what are you gonna do now?" Victoria asked.

"I think I want to start over," I said, staring up at the ceiling. "I want to do things I truly love."

"Like what?" Victoria asked.

"Like writing, traveling, or just being myself," I said.

Early the next morning, as Victoria was leaving, she hugged me at the door. "Hailey, you've got this. Be yourself."

After she left, I sat out on the balcony, watching the city below.

The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

I pulled out my phone and started looking up writing workshops.

If I were going to start over, I'd start with my dreams.