She ran the plan through her head again.
It seemed like everything was in place.
That morning, as she was heading to the kitchen, she'd overheard Jacob saying "James isn't that big a deal"
Maybe… just maybe, she could breathe a little easier now.
Maybe James had only been trying to scare her.
She placed her laptop inside a backpack by the bedroom door.
Put the little bit of cash she had next to it.
What else did she need?
ID card.
Violin.
That was it. That was all she needed.
She'd pull money from her savings.
Maybe head to Italy. two of her friends lived there.
Maybe she could talk to them, maybe even create a new identity with their help.
What she'd do after that?
Whether she stayed in that country or was forced to move again?
Didn't matter. None of it did.
She just wanted_for once_to do something she chose.
She scoffed at the thought.
"Something you want?"
You think leaving this city is your dream, idiot?
Your whole life has been running... doing what you had to, not what you wanted.
This isn't any different. You're being forced out of a city you loved.
If only you hadn't been there that night...
Everything would've been different.
She took a few deep breaths.
_"Should I bring this down too?"
She jumped at his voice behind her, spinning around fast.
-"Oh yeah. That's the one."
Jacob lifted the box effortlessly, barely glancing inside.
-"Jacob?"
He looked at her with a question in his eyes.
-"Sorry…"
_"For what?"
He gave her a small, curious smile.
-"I just didn't want to bother you. You know… I thought maybe you'd bring a couple bodyguards with you, and you wouldn't have to carry everything yourself."
He stared at her for a few seconds.
Then, without a word, he turned and started walking down the stairs