Chapter 7 – The Apartment with Blue Curtains
Nearly five months after the 911 call, Grace arrived carrying a folder and an enormous smile.
"I think you're going to want to hear this."
Melissa's hands immediately began shaking.
"What happened?"
"Your apartment is ready."
For several seconds no one spoke.
Then Ethan shouted,
"We get our own house?"
Melissa laughed through tears.
"Not a house."
"A home."
The apartment was small.
Two bedrooms.
Old wooden floors.
A tiny kitchen.
Blue curtains hanging in every window.
To most people, it looked ordinary.
To Chloe...
It looked like freedom.
No broken furniture.
No holes punched into walls.
No empty bottles hidden beneath the sink.
Just sunlight.
The volunteers helped move donated furniture into the apartment.
Officer Martinez arrived carrying a bookshelf.
"I heard every superhero needs somewhere to keep books."
Chloe smiled.
"I'm not a superhero."
"No."
"You just act like one."
That first night they ate pizza on the living room floor because their dining table had not yet arrived.
Melissa looked around at her children.
The silence no longer felt frightening.
It felt peaceful.
After dinner Ethan asked,
"Can I leave my toys in the living room?"
Melissa laughed.
"You don't have to hide them anymore."
He carefully placed every toy soldier across the carpet.
No one yelled.
No one threw them away.
He grinned like he'd discovered magic.
Before bed Chloe opened every closet in the apartment.
Each one was empty.
No memories hiding inside.
She closed the final door.
May you like
This time...
She didn't climb in.
