Twisted love

Breaking Free

Chapter Thirty-Four
Katherine’s POV

Weeks passed since that chaotic night, and with each dawn, I felt the weight of my past pressing down harder. I sat in my small apartment, staring out the window at the familiar streets of my hometown. Each corner held memories, some tinged with joy, others heavy with pain. The laughter of my childhood friends echoed through my mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by the horrors I had experienced.

The video leak had shattered my sense of safety, exposing the most intimate parts of my life to strangers. It was a betrayal I had never anticipated, one that left me questioning everything I thought I knew about love and trust. Then there was the pregnancy—a fragile hope turned to ash when I lost the baby. The miscarriage was a brutal reminder of everything I had lost and the life I would never have. And my sister’s death—Katanya’s absence felt like an open wound that refused to heal, a reminder of the fragility of life and the darkness that had engulfed our family.

Then there was the night I almost died, the night that crystallized everything I had endured into one terrifying moment. I had stood on the precipice, ready to let go of it all, feeling as though the world would be better off without me. But I was pulled back from the brink—thanks to Sophie and Oliver. That night, they reminded me that I wasn’t alone, that I had people who cared about me. Yet, despite their support, I felt suffocated by the memories of this town and the ghosts that haunted me.

I realized I needed to get the hell out of here. I needed to leave behind the pain and start fresh somewhere new, where I could find healing away from the shadows of my past. It was a terrifying thought, but the more I contemplated it, the more liberated I felt. I could almost taste the freedom that awaited me beyond the confines of this town.

Before I left, I knew I had to make peace with Oliver and Sophie. They had been my anchors in the storm, even when everything seemed lost. It was time to express my gratitude and explain my decision.

One quiet afternoon, I arranged to meet them at our favorite café. As I sat at a table, waiting for them to arrive, my heart raced with anticipation and anxiety. I fidgeted with the napkin, recalling all the laughter and tears we had shared. But this meeting felt different. I was preparing to say goodbye, to sever ties with a part of my life that had become too painful to bear.

When Oliver and Sophie arrived, their faces lit up with smiles, but they quickly faded when they sensed my seriousness.

“What’s wrong, Kat?” Sophie asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

I took a deep breath, my heart heavy. “I need to talk to you both about something important.”

They exchanged worried glances, and I knew I had their full attention.

“I’ve been reflecting on everything that’s happened—the video, my pregnancy, Katanya’s death, and all the chaos that followed. It’s been overwhelming, and I realized that I need to leave this town behind.”

Silence enveloped the table as they processed my words. I could see the emotions flickering across their faces—shock, sadness, understanding.

“Leave?” Oliver finally asked, his voice soft but firm. “You mean, like… permanently?”

I nodded, my throat tightening. “Yes. I need to find a place where I can heal, away from all the memories that keep dragging me down. I can’t do this anymore.”

Sophie reached across the table, her hand covering mine. “We’ll miss you, Kat. But if this is what you need, I support you. You deserve to be happy.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes. “I just want to move on and find some peace.”

Oliver’s gaze was intense, a mixture of sadness and acceptance. “I get it. You’ve been through so much, and it’s okay to want a fresh start. I just wish things could have been different between us.”