Chapter 15 - A THOUSAND MILES AWAY Six months later, they lived in another state.
A thousand miles separated them from the old house.
The new home was brighter.
Quieter.
There were wide windows.
A small backyard.
A kitchen filled with ordinary things.
Tea.
Coffee.
Spices.
Nothing hidden.
Nothing locked away.
Maya was six months old.
She had discovered laughter.
David sat on the living room floor, shaking a plastic rattle.
Maya giggled.
Leah walked in carrying two mugs.
She looked different.
Not because her face had changed.
Because she finally looked safe.
"You know," Leah said, sitting beside him, "I think she has your stubborn chin."
David smiled.
"She has your resilience."
Leah leaned against his shoulder.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
No alarms.
No police.
No hospital.
No fear.
Just the sound of their daughter laughing.
David closed his eyes.
For years, he had believed peace was something that happened when danger disappeared.
May you like
Now he understood.
Peace was something you learned to recognize after surviving danger.
Related Stories
