CHAPTER 1

The screams were always the same.

The blood was always the same.

And no matter how desperately she tried to change the ending, her father always died.

Sylvia Bennett jolted awake, a strangled cry escaping her lips. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath. Sweat covered her forehead, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Not again.

Another nightmare.

For thirteen years, she had been haunted by the same terrible memory. Sometimes, it came in fragments. Other times, it played out like a twisted movie, with different faces, different surroundings, and different circumstances.

But the ending never changed.

Her father always died right before her eyes.

And she could never save him.

She pressed her trembling palms against her face, trying to steady herself.

"Daddy..."

His name escaped her lips in a barely audible whisper.

She could still remember his warm smile, his gentle voice, and the way he used to carry her on his shoulders. He had been the only person who made her feel like the world was a beautiful place.

Until that terrible day.

Her tenth birthday.

She remembered begging him to take her to the city. She remembered crying when he refused, throwing a little tantrum because she desperately wanted to see the beautiful buildings and colourful lights she had only seen in pictures.

She remembered his laughter.

She remembered his promise to make it up to her.

But she couldn't remember what happened afterwards.

Everything was a blur.

All she knew was that her father had died that day, and somehow, she had survived.

For years, she had blamed herself. If only she hadn't insisted on going to the city. If only she hadn't cried. If only she had listened to him.

Perhaps he would still be alive.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

How could a ten-year-old girl have been responsible for something so terrible?

Yet, that was exactly what she had spent the last ten years believing.

And her mother had never allowed her to forget it.

Wiping her tears, Sylvia reluctantly climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom. She needed a shower. Perhaps the cold water would wash away the heaviness sitting in her chest.

She stood beneath the shower for several minutes, allowing the water to run down her face.

Today was supposed to be another ordinary day.

But nothing about her life had ever felt ordinary.

Not since she lost her father.

"Sylvia!"

Her mother's sharp voice echoed through the house.

Sylvia closed her eyes briefly.

"Yeah, Mum?"

"How long are you planning to stay in that bathroom? Do you think breakfast is going to make itself?"

"I'm almost done. Just give me a few more minutes."

"Well, hurry up! I need you to run to the grocery store and pick up a few things. Or are you suddenly too good to help out around here?"

"I'm coming, Mum."

"You'd better be."

Sylvia sighed and quickly finished her shower.

She slipped into a black fitted top and a pair of blue jeans, allowing her long brunette hair to fall loosely over her shoulders. Her brown eyes were still slightly swollen from crying, but she did her best to ignore them.

Picking up her handbag, she stepped out of her room.

Her mother, Evelyn Bennett, was lying on the couch with her eyes closed.

"Mum?"

No response.

"Mom, I'm heading to the store. Could you give me some money for the groceries?"

Her mother slowly opened her eyes.

For a moment, she simply stared at her.

Then her expression hardened.

"When are you going to start doing your part around here?"

Sylvia lowered her gaze.

"I just asked for some money, Mom."

"And I just asked you to do something for this household! Is that really too much to ask?"

"No, Mom. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Evelyn let out a bitter laugh. "You're always sorry. That's all you've ever been good at."

Sylvia remained silent.

"I've done everything for you, even after you took my husband away from me. Do you have any idea what I went through after your father died? I had to struggle, work myself to exhaustion, and sacrifice everything just to keep a roof over our heads!"

Her voice began to tremble.

"And for what? So I could spend the rest of my life looking at the child whose stubbornness cost me the man I loved?"

Sylvia's throat tightened.

She knew those words.

She had heard them countless times.

But somehow, they still managed to hurt.

"I'm sorry, Mom," she whispered. "I never wanted any of this to happen. I swear I didn't."

Evelyn shook her head.

"Sometimes I wonder what else you want from me. Haven't I suffered enough? Do you want to take everything from me?"

Tears gathered in Sylvia's eyes.

"No, Mom. Please don't say that. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. I know you've sacrificed a lot, and I'll never forget it. I'm sorry I've caused you so much pain."

Her voice broke.

"I'm really sorry."

For a moment, the only sound between them was Sylvia's quiet sobbing.

Evelyn turned her face away.

"Just leave me alone, Sylvia."

Sylvia wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.

"Can I at least have some money for the groceries?"

Her mother reached for her purse, pulled out a few bills, and placed them on the table without looking at her.

Sylvia picked them up.

"Thanks, Mom."

She turned and walked away.

She didn't expect a response.

She rarely did.

The morning air was cool as Sylvia stepped outside.

Willow Creek was a small, peaceful town in Pennsylvania. It was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone, where neighbours exchanged greetings across fences and where nothing particularly exciting ever happened.

It was also the place Sylvia had spent her entire life trying to escape.

She walked along the familiar streets, passing the little bakery on the corner and the old grocery store where her father used to buy her favourite sweets.

Her steps slowed when she passed a small flower shop.

Her father had loved buying flowers for her mother.

Every Friday, without fail, he would come home with a fresh bouquet, even when money was tight.

Sylvia swallowed the lump in her throat and continued walking.

She was tired.

Tired of the memories.

Tired of the guilt.

And most importantly, tired of feeling like she was being punished for something she couldn't even remember doing.

As she approached the market, a thought that had been quietly growing in her mind finally became impossible to ignore.

Perhaps it was time to leave.

Not because she hated her mother.

Not because she wanted to abandon her.

But because she couldn't continue living in a house where her very existence reminded someone of their greatest heartbreak.

She needed a fresh start.

A place where nobody knew her name, nobody knew her history, and nobody looked at her as though she had committed an unforgivable crime.

New York.

The thought made her heart beat a little faster.

She had dreamed of living there ever since she was a little girl. She loved the tall buildings, the busy streets, the beautiful apartments and the endless opportunities.

Perhaps she could finally build something for herself there.

She had a university degree, a little savings, and enough determination to try.

It wouldn't be easy.

But staying in Willow Creek was slowly destroying her.

"I think it's time," she whispered to herself.

For the first time in a long while, she smiled.

By the time Sylvia returned home, the sun was already high.

She unpacked the groceries, prepared lunch and made sure her mother had something to eat.

Evelyn barely acknowledged her efforts.

Sylvia had grown accustomed to it.

After cleaning the kitchen, she retreated to her bedroom, picked up her phone and began searching for apartments in New York.

She scrolled through countless listings.

Some were breathtaking but ridiculously expensive. Others were affordable but looked as though they hadn't been renovated in decades.

She sighed.

"Is it too much to ask for a decent apartment that won't eat up all my savings?"

She continued scrolling until one particular listing caught her attention.

A modest one-bedroom apartment in a relatively quiet neighbourhood.

It wasn't luxurious, but it was clean, spacious enough for one person, and had large windows that allowed plenty of natural light into the living room.

The kitchen was small, but she could already imagine how she would decorate it.

It was perfect.

Well, almost perfect.

She checked the rent.

Then checked it again.

It was within her budget.

Her eyes widened.

"Please, don't let this be some kind of scam."

She immediately contacted the landlord.

After a brief conversation and a video tour of the property, she was satisfied.

Within the hour, she had paid the required deposit and secured the apartment.

She stared at the confirmation message on her phone.

PAYMENT CONFIRMED.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

She was actually doing it.

She was leaving Willow Creek.

She was going to New York.

For the first time in ten years, Sylvia felt something other than sadness.

Hope.

She placed her phone against her chest and closed her eyes.

Maybe life wasn't going to be cruel to her forever.

Maybe she could finally be happy.