Coming Home | Scarlett Johansson's Daughter |

PARTY

NEW YORK 2024 - SCARLETT'S APARTMENT - FRIDAY NIGHT

The soft light from Violet's bedside lamp cast a warm glow over the room, but it did little to alleviate the tension she felt. She had been in bed for just over an hour, pretending to be exhausted from a long week. Her mother, Scarlett, had come in earlier to tuck her in, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead and planting a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"I know you've had a long day, sweetheart," Scarlett said, her voice soothing. "Get some rest, okay? You can talk to me tomorrow if you need anything."

"Thanks, Mama," Violet replied, mustering a sleepy tone. She watched as Scarlett left the room, the door clicking softly behind her.

Violet waited, her pulse quickening as the minutes ticked by. She had to stay calm and act like she was drifting off to sleep. Her phone lay on the pillow beside her, the screen dark. She had turned off all notifications to avoid any accidental pings that might alert her parents to her plans.

As the clock struck 8:00 PM, her phone buzzed with a new message. Violet's heart skipped a beat as she reached for it, her hand trembling slightly. The message was from Alina.

Alina: We're downstairs! Are you ready?

Violet quickly typed back, trying to sound casual despite her nerves.

Violet: *Yeah, I'm ready. I'll be down in a sec.

She slipped the phone into the pocket of her hoodie and took a deep breath. Now was the moment of truth. Violet had carefully planned this, knowing that her parents would be preoccupied with Cosmo, who had been feeling under the weather earlier in the day. They had spent the afternoon comforting him and dealing with his needs, leaving Violet an opening to sneak out unnoticed.

Violet climbed out of bed, her feet barely making a sound on the wooden floor. She moved stealthily to her closet, pulling out a pair of jeans and a jacket. After dressing quickly, she grabbed her small purse, which she had packed earlier with her essentials. She checked the hallway once more to ensure that no one was around before making her way to the door.

Her heart raced as she approached the door to the hallway. She paused, listening intently for any signs of movement from her parents or Cosmo. The apartment was silent, save for the occasional muffled sound of Cosmo's faint cries from the other room. Scarlett and Colin were clearly preoccupied.

Violet eased the door open just a crack, peeking out into the hallway. The coast was clear. She stepped out cautiously, closing the door behind her with a practiced quietness. She moved quickly but carefully towards the stairwell, her mind racing with excitement and anxiety.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could see the dim light of the entrance hallway. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, feeling the cool evening air seep through the cracks in the apartment's windows. Her phone buzzed again, and she checked the message.

Alina: Hurry up! We're waiting!

Violet's nerves were a tangled mess, but she knew she had to stay focused. She approached the front door, her hand trembling as she turned the handle. She had practiced this so many times in her head, but now that it was real, it felt surreal.

Just as she was about to open the door, she heard a noise from the direction of the living room. Violet froze, her breath catching in her throat. She stood still, straining to hear any sounds that might indicate someone was coming. The noise turned out to be a low murmur—probably Scarlett and Colin talking to Cosmo.

Violet took another deep breath and pushed the door open, slipping out into the warm hallway. Now, the elevator, located discreetly at the end of the corridor, was Violet's only obstacle. She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed the call button. The soft chime of the elevator arriving at her floor seemed deafening in the stillness of the apartment. Violet stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor.