Wildflower

Chapter 1: The Leap To Freedom

I push open the door and step into the apartment. The scent of Matheo's aftershave lingers heavily in the air, mixed with a hint of the breakfast he likely never cleaned up. My heart pounds in my chest, but I force myself to stay calm. I've replayed this moment in my head a hundred times. I know what I need to do.

"Where's Luna?" His sharp tone cuts through the room as he approaches from the kitchen. His eyes bore into mine, searching for a weakness, a moment of hesitation. But I don't let anything show.

"She's at my mother's," I reply, my voice flat and controlled. A shiver runs down my spine, but I keep my gaze fixed on him. This is the moment. "I'm here to get my things."

There's a silence. I see his eyebrows draw together, his face shifting from confusion to anger. "What do you mean, 'get your things'? What is this nonsense?"

"I'm leaving, Matheo," I say firmly as I head toward the bedroom. My suitcase is already packed in the closet, just as I left it after my last quiet preparation. "It's over. This isn't good for Luna. And it's not good for me."

I open the closet and pull out the suitcase. My hands tremble slightly as I unzip it, but I force myself to keep going. This is the only way. I had already taken all the important documents for Luna and me to my mother's earlier this week. All I need now are my clothes and a few personal items.

"You're crazy if you think you can just leave," he says, storming into the room. He positions himself in the doorway, his shoulders broad, his stance threatening. "You're not going anywhere." He snatches the suitcase from my hands and throws it onto the bed. "What do you think you're doing? You can't just take Luna away from me!"

"Matheo, it's over," I say as I pick up the suitcase again and begin to pack my clothes. "You can't keep pretending this is normal. Luna deserves better. I deserve better."

"You don't know what you're getting into," he hisses, his voice low and full of menace. He steps closer, his face just inches from mine. "I'll take you to court. I'll make sure you never see Luna again. I'll hire the best lawyers. You don't stand a chance."

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, fighting back tears. "Go ahead," I say, sounding braver than I feel. My voice is steady, but inside, I'm trembling. I know he won't hesitate to use every manipulation he can think of. But I can't go back. Not anymore.

"I'm not bluffing, Stella," he says, his voice quivering with anger, his eyes blazing. "You think you're strong, don't you? You think you can just walk away?" His face suddenly shifts. The anger gives way to something else, something unpredictable. His eyes grow moist, his voice cracks. "I can't do this. If you leave, my life is over. Do you want me to hurt myself? Do you want me to be found dead in this damn apartment tomorrow? Is that what you want?"

I turn away, my hands shaking as I toss more clothes into the suitcase. His words cut deep, slicing through my resolve, but I have to stay strong. For Luna. "Matheo, this has to stop. This isn't good for us. We can't keep pretending this is normal."

He stands behind me, his breathing ragged, as if he might collapse at any moment. "This is all your fault," he whispers, his voice low and bitter. "If I go, it's your fault. You caused this."

My heart races, my mind spinning from the emotional rollercoaster he's putting me through. It takes everything I have to keep my voice steady. "I can't do this anymore, Matheo. I have to leave, for Luna. For myself."

I zip up the suitcase and lift it. Matheo is still blocking the doorway, but I can see the energy draining from his body. He looks helpless, like a man who no longer knows how to regain control. I wait, holding my breath, as he hesitates, his gaze fixed on the floor. Then, with a heavy sigh, he steps aside.

I walk past him, gripping the suitcase tightly, and without looking back, I leave the apartment where I once thought I would build my future.

The cold air outside hits me like a slap. The contrast with the stifling atmosphere inside is so stark that I almost stumble. My heart is still pounding as I quickly walk to my car, clutching the suitcase as if it's my only lifeline.

I open the trunk and place the suitcase inside. My hands are still trembling, but I know I can't fall apart now. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but just then, I hear the front door slam open.

"Stella! Come back!" The panic in his voice makes my breath catch. Before I know it, Matheo is running toward me, his eyes wild with anger and desperation. He's faster than I expected. His long strides close the distance between us in seconds, and before I can react, he grabs the car door handle and tries to yank it open.

I'm just in time. With shaking hands, I slam the door shut and quickly press the button to lock all the doors. Matheo tugs at the handle, his face contorted with rage and despair. He starts shouting, his words jumbled and frantic. "You can't just walk away! You're ruining everything! This is your fault!"

My hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles white with tension. I try to avoid looking at him, but I can feel his hatred and pain even without making eye contact. My heart is still racing, but I force myself not to give in to the fear settling in my chest.

"Matheo, stop!" I shout, my voice nearly breaking, but I know I have to stay strong. "It's over!"

He pounds his fist against the window, his desperation echoing like thunder. "You did this! You ruined everything!" His words are full of bitterness and pain, and for a moment, I wonder how it ever came to this. How the love we once shared could turn into something so toxic and destructive.

He collapses to his knees, his face pressed against the window. "If you leave now, it's over, Stella. I'll be gone."

The threat in his words is unmistakable, and I know he means it. But I also know I can't stay. I can't remain trapped in this vicious cycle of fear and manipulation. For Luna. For both of us.

With trembling hands, I start the engine and put the car in gear. My heart breaks at the sound of Matheo's shouts, his desperate pleas cutting through the air, but I force myself to keep going. I don't look in the rearview mirror, afraid of what I might see. Afraid of seeing him collapse, afraid of hearing his voice in my head, accusing me, blaming me.

I drive away slowly, his voice fading into the distance, but the echo lingers in my ears. I feel the tears burning behind my eyes, but I swallow them down. I have to stay strong. For Luna. For myself.

I blink and look around. The memory of that day slowly fades as I step inside the house. Sunlight streams through the large windows, illuminating the wooden floor and filling the space with a warm, inviting glow. This house is exactly as I had imagined it: a small, cozy place with a spacious garden where Luna can play.

My heart is still pounding, but this time it's not from fear. It's excitement, mixed with cautious hope. This is my chance to start over, to write a new chapter without the shadows of the past.

"So, what do you think?" the owner of the house asks, standing beside me with kind eyes. He waits patiently for my answer, as if sensing that this is an important decision.

I look down at Luna, cradled in my arms. She's so small, so vulnerable, yet so full of trust in me. She looks around curiously, her big eyes following the beams of light dancing through the room. She may not understand, but she feels the peace, the safety this place offers.

I smile and nod slowly. "Yes," I say softly, holding her a little closer. "We'll take it."

Luna makes a contented sound, her tiny hand reaching for my necklace as if to show her approval. She knows that this is a place where we'll be safe, where we can begin again.

"Yes!" she says, her voice still soft and unsteady, but full of the certainty of a child who knows that everything will be all right.

I smile back, knowing that this is the beginning of our new life. A life where I can finally breathe freely, free from the chains that have held me down for so long. This is our new home, our new start, and I know that here, we can flourish together.