"Behind Closed Doors"

Full Circle

Kayla's POV:

Chapter 34:

Kayla sat at her desk, her hands resting on the keyboard as she stared at the email that had just come in. Her heart raced with anticipation as she read the subject line over and over again: Congratulations on your Acceptance!

For a moment, she couldn't believe it. She had been waiting for this—dreaming about this—since she submitted her application to design school. And now, it was real. She was in.

Her eyes scanned the email, reading the words carefully to make sure she wasn't imagining things. But it was real. She had been accepted into the program she had wanted for so long, and now, she was about to start a whole new chapter of her life.

Kayla let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, and then a huge smile spread across her face. She couldn't wait to tell her family, to let them know that all the hard work, all the healing, had led her to this moment. It was the proof that she had come full circle—that she had taken control of her life and was finally chasing her dreams again.

Without wasting another second, she grabbed her phone and called Isaiah. He picked up on the second ring.

"What's up, Kay?" he answered, his voice warm and familiar.

Kayla could barely contain her excitement. "Zay, I got in! I got the acceptance email for design school!"

Isaiah let out a loud whoop on the other end of the line. "What? That's amazing, Kay! I knew you'd get in! I'm so proud of you!"

Kayla laughed, feeling her heart swell with joy. "Thank you! I can't believe it's real. I start in a couple of weeks."

Isaiah's voice was filled with pride. "You deserve this, Kay. You've worked hard for it. This is just the beginning."

Kayla felt tears of happiness welling up in her eyes. "Yeah, it is. Everything feels like it's finally falling into place."

After chatting with Isaiah for a few more minutes, Kayla hung up the phone and immediately texted Jordan and Lena to share the news. The responses came flooding in with excitement and support, and Kayla felt overwhelmed with gratitude for the people in her life who had been there for her through everything.

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. For so long, she had been trapped in the fear and chaos of her past. But now, with Devin behind her and her future wide open in front of her, she could finally embrace the life she had always wanted.

Later that evening, Kayla sat at the dinner table with her family, the atmosphere light and full of laughter. Isaiah and Jordan had both shown up to celebrate her acceptance, and their mom had made her favorite dinner as a surprise. It felt like everything had come full circle—from the dark days when she thought she'd never escape Devin's control, to this moment, surrounded by the people she loved, celebrating her future.

"To Kayla," Isaiah said, raising his glass. "For chasing her dreams and makin' them come true. We're all proud of you, sis."

Jordan lifted his glass as well, grinning. "That's right! Kay's about to take over the design world, and we're gonna be right there cheerin' her on."

Kayla blushed, feeling the love and support from her family wash over her. "Thank you, guys. I couldn't have done it without y'all."

Her mom smiled warmly at her, pride shining in her eyes. "You're going to do amazing things, Kay. You've got the strength and the talent, and now you've got the chance. Go make the most of it."

Kayla's heart swelled with emotion as she clinked her glass with her family's. This moment, this feeling of joy and accomplishment, was what she had been fighting for all along. It wasn't just about getting into school—it was about reclaiming her life, her dreams, and her future.

After dinner, Kayla stepped outside onto the porch, taking in the cool night air. The stars were out, twinkling brightly above her, and as she stood there, she couldn't help but reflect on how far she had come.

The girl who had been scared and lost, trapped in a toxic relationship, felt like a distant memory now. In her place was a woman who had fought for her freedom, who had healed from her wounds, and who was now stepping into the life she had always wanted.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out to see a message from Lena.

Lena: So when's the big celebration? We gotta do somethin' to toast to your future!

Kayla smiled, typing a quick response.

Kayla: Soon! I'll let you know the details. We definitely gotta celebrate!

As she put her phone away, Kayla took one last look at the stars, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew there would still be challenges ahead—school wouldn't be easy, and life would continue to throw obstacles her way. But now, she was ready for it all.

She had her family, her friends, and most importantly, she had herself. The version of herself she had always wanted to be—strong, resilient, and unafraid of the future.

Kayla took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs, and smiled to herself. This was just the beginning.