“Please leave,” I said. “All of you.”
My mother stood there for a few more seconds, staring at me with pure hatred. Then she grabbed her bag and stormed out.
My sister and her husband followed, still arguing loudly.
As they left, my mother turned around one last time and shouted, “You’ll be sorry, Sophia. You and that baby will have nothing.”
I closed the door and locked it.
Then I leaned against it, closed my eyes, and let out a long breath.
For the first time in weeks, I felt safe.
I had protected my daughter. I had protected our home. And I had finally stood up to the people who had tried to control and use me for years.
But I knew this was only the beginning.
My family was not going to give up so easily.
I stood at the door for a long time after my mother and sister left, holding Lily close to my chest. The house was quiet again, but my heart was still racing.
I had just stood up to my mother for the first time in my life. I had told her she could not take my house. I had protected what I had built for my daughter.
But I knew this was only the beginning.
That night, I barely slept. I kept checking on Lily every few minutes.