Tehila sat at the small kitchen table, the sunlight streaming through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. She could feel the weight of the marriage papers in her pocket, a tangible reminder of the decision she had made. It had been two days since she signed her name, and now, with the payment from her father finally in her hands, she felt a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. The money was meant to be a fresh start, a way to escape the suffocating grip of her father, her stepmother Grace, and her stepsister, Lila.
"Are you really going to go through with this?" Grace's voice cut through the morning air, dripping with disdain. Tehila looked up to see her stepmother leaning against the counter, arms crossed, a smirk plastered on her face. Lila, her stepsister, was perched on a stool, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Of course she is," Lila chimed in, her tone mocking. "Who wouldn't want to leave this lovely home for a tiny apartment? I mean, it's not like you'll be missed, Tehila."
Tehila took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "I found a nice place in Summerville. It's close to the city, and I'll finally have my own space together with my Mylo "....
Grace laughed, a harsh sound that echoed in the small kitchen. "Your own space? You think you can just waltz out of here and everything will be fine? You're going to struggle, Tehila. You'll see."
"Yeah, good luck paying rent with that little bit of money," Lila added, rolling her eyes. "You'll be back here begging for scraps before you know it."
Tehila felt a surge of anger but pushed it down. She had spent too long letting their words affect her. "I'm not coming back," she said firmly, her voice steady. "I'm done with this place and with both of you."
"Done? You think you can just walk away from your family?" Grace shot back, her voice rising. "You're nothing without us. You'll fail, and then where will you be?"
Tehila stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. "I'll be free," she declared, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. "I'll be free to live my life on my own terms."
As she gathered her things, she could feel their eyes on her, the weight of their judgment heavy in the air. But she refused to let it crush her spirit. She had made her choice, and she was ready to embrace the unknown.
With one last glance at the kitchen that had been both a prison and a battleground, Tehila stepped out into the bright morning light together with Mylo.....
The world outside felt different, alive with possibilities. She took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air, and headed toward her new life.
She then took her little luggages and strode out of the house and hailed a cab to her apartment