I carried the warm mug down the hallway and slid open the glass balcony door.

The cool autumn air met me as I stepped out to the balcony railing.

Below me, the streetlights along High Street came on one by one in long, glowing rows.

The maple trees in the city park rustled softly in the evening breeze.

Across the Columbus skyline, office tower lights flickered against the darkening sky.

There were no vendor invoices to check, no joint accounts to watch, and no secret house leases to uncover.

The brass plaque sat on my desk at Oak Street Dental, with my name and the title Office Manager.

My fifty-two-thousand-dollar salary was signed, my twelve thousand dollars in savings were back, and my home was mine alone.

I took a warm sip from my mug and looked out over the quiet city lights.

I stood on my balcony and took a deep, quiet breath of freedom.