When it was all over, Skylar felt no sudden joy. What she felt was an immense silence.

It was a huge, strange silence—like when a noise that’s droned on for years finally stops, and the body takes a while to understand it no longer has to brace against danger.

As she left the courthouse, Mrs. Greer caught up with her on the wide concrete sidewalk.

“I hope you’re happy with yourself, Skylar,” she spat bitterly. “You completely destroyed a family.”

Skylar looked at her without a trace of anger.

“No, ma’am,” she replied quietly. “I just stopped letting yours destroy me.”