Chapter 17
Autumn returned to the quiet city once again,
painting the neighborhood in familiar,
and entirely beautiful shades of brilliant fire.
It was almost exactly one full year since the terrible birthday party,
the chaotic event that had completely shattered their lives,
and ultimately saved them from complete destruction.
Jessica decided to celebrate the incredible milestone silently,
baking a small,
and incredibly sweet chocolate cake after dinner,
and pouring herself a large glass of expensive champagne.
Emma was already fast asleep in her warm bed,
exhausted from a busy day of playing soccer,
and completely unaware of the deep significance of the date.
Jessica sat entirely alone at the dark kitchen table,
eating a small slice of the rich chocolate cake,
and listening to the completely peaceful silence of the house.
She thought back to the crying,
and the awful shouting of that terrible afternoon,
remembering the complete look of heartbreak on Emma's tiny face,
when Vanessa had selfishly stolen the entire spotlight.
The memory still possessed a tiny,
and completely dull ache deep inside her chest,
but it no longer completely entirely consumed her thoughts,
or made her hands shake with uncontrollable anger.
It was simply a dark chapter in a very long book,
a chapter she had firmly,
and completely closed forever.
She raised her crystal glass of bubbling champagne,
toasting the completely empty room,
and celebrating her own incredible,
and entirely undeniable inner strength.
She had completely broken the generational cycle of abuse,
refusing to pass the heavy burden of guilt,
and completely toxic obligation down to her innocent daughter.
She had chosen the lonely,
and incredibly difficult path of complete estrangement,
and it had led her directly to a beautiful,
and entirely peaceful garden of profound healing.
Buster walked slowly into the quiet kitchen,
his nails clicking softly on the hard wooden floor,
and he rested his heavy chin gently on her knee,
looking up at her with completely soulful brown eyes.
Jessica smiled warmly,
reaching down to pet his soft,
and incredibly floppy ears,
feeling completely grounded,
and entirely present in the beautiful moment.
The past year had been a massive journey of self-discovery,
learning how to set totally firm boundaries,
and completely unlearning the toxic lies her family had taught her.
She was entirely enough,
she was completely worthy of genuine love,
and she was an absolutely incredible,
and fiercely protective mother to her child.
She finished the sweet cake,
and washed the small plate in the sink,
turning off the bright kitchen lights one by one,
and plunging the house into a safe,
and completely comfortable darkness.
Tomorrow would be another completely beautiful day,
filled with entirely endless new possibilities,
and she was entirely ready to embrace every single moment,
May you like
with a completely open,
and entirely healed heart.
