Echoes of a broken past

ness of the morning. The cool air kissed her cheeks, but it did nothing to soothe the fire burning within her chest. Her eyes stu

mortar. To Anna, it had been a sanctuary. Every corner of that house held memories-her father teaching her how to ride a bicycle in the front yard, her grandmother's warm la

as all go

e voices of her uncle Whittaker and his wife Leticia still rang in her

, ungrate

ongs to the Har

ime to

r. The pain in her chest began to morph into som

just resentmen

d her to school on her first day. She remembered the evenings they spent playing board games, his booming laughter filling the room whenever she won

ebrating his demise. They had taken everything from her, leaving her wit

elf: No matter what it takes, I will get it all back. This house

down a cab. The driver, an older man with a kind face, offered

?" he ask

lapa" Anna replied, her vo

d altogether. Anna leaned her head against the window, watching the city lights blur past. The streets of

he city. As the cab weaved through quieter streets lined wit

up and maintain their family's legacy. He had sacrificed so much, pouring every ounce of his en

icia's cruel sneer. The memory of Leticia slapping her rep

ray my father's trust? How could they desecrate his memory

ump, jostling her slightly, but she barely noticed. Her thoughts were a

home with a small garden out front. The warm glow of the porch li

d her suitcases. Quinn opened the door before Anna even ha

o a tight hug. "I'm so sorry. I can

finally broke. She sobbed into Quinn's shoulder

rything my dad worked for. They threw me out

le onto the couch. She handed Anna a glas

now this feels impossible right now, but you'l

istorted by the ripples. She wanted to believe Quinn'

was upstairs crying, they were downstairs laughing about ho

on't know who they're dealing

er tears away and looked up at Quinn

et them win. My dad's legacy belongs to me, a

gging at the corners of her mo

e up to the sound of birds chirping outside. The sunlight stre

hat came with a new day. But as the events of the pr

hours. She glanced around the room, her eyes landing on her suitcase in the corner. Ins

father's wisdom, and her determination. And she had Q

ng with plans. She didn't know how she would f

mind once more: "It is courageous

end. This was on