Chapter 25 - The Unbreakable Shore
Two years later, the coastal house had been completely repaired.
There were no more alarms. There were no more steel plates on the windows.
Claire was rotting in a federal supermax prison for the rest of her natural life, and the Whitlock name had been completely erased from the history of the city.
It was a bright, beautiful Sunday afternoon.
I sat on the wooden porch, watching the waves crash gently against the shore.
Aaron, now a wildly energetic toddler with thick dark hair, was running across the sandy beach, chasing a seagull while Caleb jogged behind him, laughing loudly.
The screen door opened. Daniel walked out, carrying two cups of coffee. He sat down in the rocking chair next to me, handing me a warm mug.
"They look happy,"
Daniel murmured, watching his son and Caleb on the beach.
"We are all happy,"
I smiled, reaching out to take his strong, calloused hand.
I thought about the yellow nursery, the fire, and the storm that had nearly destroyed us. We had walked through hell, and we had burned the monsters to ashes.
I looked down at the ocean, feeling a profound, absolute peace settle deep into my soul.
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I was Hannah Brooks. I was a survivor, a mother, and a warrior.
And for the rest of our lives, we were entirely, unequivocally free.
