They sat on the stairwell and talked for an hour. Mark admitted he’d left because he couldn’t handle Samuel’s rage—but he’d carried guilt for leaving Evelyn behind.
Mark nodded. “I want to be in your life again. Only if you want that.”
Evelyn breathed, steady and clear. “I do. But with boundaries. And distance from Dad.”
“You have my word,” Mark said.
When she went back inside, the apartment still felt small—but her world felt bigger.
She stood by the window, watching the street, and for the first time the words didn’t feel like a wish.
“I’m going to be okay.”
