Get those stitches out and get to the stove, you lazy woman…

Michael glared at his sister like she’d betrayed him. “I’m leaving,” Emily said. “I need to figure out if we have a chance or if this is over.”

Half an hour later, a taxi waited outside. Emily’s bag held just the essentials. “Go ahead, when you realize you’re nothing without me, you can come back,” Michael spat.

“She’s already realized she’s nothing with you,” Linda said. “Without you, she has a chance to be herself.”

Six months later, Emily sat by the window of her bright apartment. Snow fell outside, and her back barely hurt. Her new job at a design studio brought not just money but joy. Her mom, having beaten her cancer, lived nearby. They saw each other almost daily.

One day, the doorbell rang. Sarah stood there, her eyes brighter than Emily had ever seen. “Hi, Emily, can I come in?” “Of course, come on in.”

Over tea, Sarah shared that she was renting a room and working as a receptionist. “Can you believe it, Emily? Mom’s furious, and Michael’s trying to date, but it’s not working out. He’s living with Mom. What about you? Thinking of going back?”

Emily shook her head. “No, Sarah. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to find the strength to stand on your own. To start a new life, you just need to take a step, even if it’s the hardest one you’ll ever make. So, we’ll chat, have some more tea, and then you’ll go. Tell Michael and your mom I say hi. I’m not holding a grudge. Let them figure it out.”

The taxi moved slowly through the snowy streets. Emily gazed out the window at the flickering streetlights. Linda held her hand, and that warmth gave her strength.

In the new apartment they’d rented together, the smell of fresh paint lingered. For the first time in years, Emily felt at home. She knew there was still work to do on herself.

Linda dove into making the place their own. She hung new curtains, bought a cozy blanket. Emily smiled, watching her mom try to make their life better.

The next day, Emily went to an interview at a design studio. Her portfolio, put together back in college, impressed the director. They offered her a small project, and she accepted…