Those things only gathered the evidence.

What actually saved me was the thing I understood while I was crawling across that floor — the thing my whole family had spent nine years trying to convince me was not true — which is that I did not need Christopher’s permission, or Beatrice’s, or anyone’s on this earth, to stand up and protect my own life.

Outside, Jacqueline was waiting by the moving truck with two cups of coffee.

“Ready to leave this place behind?” she asked.

I looked back at the house, and felt, at last, only peace.

“Completely,” I said, and I shut the door, and I walked away.