Layla glanced in the rearview mirror at her three dogs: Venom, a Golden Retriever; Rusty, a Rhodesian Ridgeback; and Knight, a Border Collie mix, as she navigated the highway. Four years prior, her stepbrother Liam had relocated to Jacksonville to escape their dysfunctional parents, and her cousin Conrad had also moved there with his wife and children. Liam had chosen not to inform their parents of his whereabouts, sharing this information only with Layla. Throughout high school, Layla had worked at a gas station, diligently saving her earnings in secret. On the day of her graduation, her parents, predictably, did not attend, but Layla remained unfazed. She waited for nightfall, anticipating her parents' departure for a party. As soon as they left, she packed her meager belongings, which included her clothes, personal items, photographs of herself and Liam, her dogs' necessities, and the ashes of both sets of grandparents. Her parents had been so financially driven that they refused to cover the funeral expenses when her grandparents passed away. Once everything was loaded into her car and her dogs had settled in, Layla drove away from her home in Montgomery. She had already paid the first month's rent on a two-bedroom house and secured a remote position as a dog consultant, where she addressed inquiries about canine care. Upon informing Liam, he and Conrad generously provided furniture for her new home. After several days of travel, Layla finally arrived in Jacksonville, where Liam and Conrad greeted her at her new residence and assisted in moving her belongings inside, while her dogs eagerly explored their new environment. Once everything was settled, Layla, Liam, and Conrad headed to the grocery store, where Layla purchased a substantial amount of groceries, household supplies, and dog food.

Upon returning from the grocery store, darkness had already fallen. Liam and Conrad assisted Layla in putting away the groceries, household supplies, and dog food. Layla expressed her gratitude before Conrad had to depart to help his wife settle their three children—five-year-old Annie, three-year-old Bayla, and two-year-old Kyle—into bed. Layla, at 18, was the youngest, while Liam was 23 and Conrad was 27; the three shared an unbreakable bond. After Conrad's departure, Layla prepared a dinner of chicken alfredo, spinach, and sautéed mushrooms, accompanied by homemade fruit punch. Following their meal, Layla fed her dogs some wet food, and soon a light rain began to fall. Concerned about the weather, Liam decided to return to the three-bedroom apartment he shared with two roommates before the rain intensified. Layla embraced Liam, who assured her he would come by in the morning. She reminded him, "Text me when you arrive home," to which he agreed. Afterward, Layla changed out of her clothes and settled onto her large, comfortable king-sized bed, a significant improvement from the cramped twin bed she had in Montgomery. As she lay there, she sighed in relief, feeling liberated from her toxic parents. She soon drifted off to sleep, with her dogs—Venom, Rusty, and Knight—resting peacefully on the bedroom floor.