Home Again By Kristin Hannah Novels & Stories

I swallow thickly, “—I just want you to meet your real family. They w-would love to meet you.” “But I don’t wanna.” “What do you want, then?” Her watery eyes blink up at me. “I w-want to go home,” she cries. “I want to stay with Noah and aunt Beth and Grandma Andrea, and Uncle AJ.” Everytime she mentions all their names, it does something to me. And I turn to Wren— lips pressed into a thin line— then back at Hannah. “Okay.” I nod firmly. “We’ll go home.” I just blurt the words out. Because frankly, I want to go home too. I can’t do this…I physically cannot do this.

"Stop running. When things get hard, when you get scared—talk to me. Fight with me. Scream at me. But do not run. Can you promise me that?" My throat tightened. "I can try." "That is all I ask." His voice dropped lower. "Come home, Jenna. Please. Let me show you what it is like to be loved without losing yourself." I looked out the window at Sofia and the others. They were laughing at something Maria said. Survivors finding joy again. If they could heal, maybe I could too. "Okay," I whispered. "I will come home." "When?" "Tomorrow. Mae is helping the others get where they need to go. After that, I will come back to Redemption Creek."

My mom passed away when I was twelve, leaving everything she had to me. My dad cried at her bedside, swearing he'd never remarry and that he'd take care of me no matter what. But six months later, my stepmother moved into the villa my mom had left me, with her daughter. She told me, "I'll love you like you're my own." It didn't take long before my room, my clothes, everything, was taken over by her daughter. I got shipped off to a boarding school and was only allowed home on weekends. That went on for four years. After my father had been away on business for months, her abuse only got worse. She even tried to make me take the fall for her daughter. When I refused, she locked me in the baseme

You have trained me in things that made me happy, only to be crushed again by our reality. And I'm not wrong, because even though we haven't completely returned to Manila, the people from our reality are also coming back. I heard your conversation with Grace on the phone. She wanted to sell our townhouse. I heard everything you've said. I was hurt knowing that she wanted to get rid of it. It feels like she was doing that for you to move on. For a better start together. And to completely erase me from your life. And it warms my heart knowing that you, somehow, tried your best to keep our home safe from them.

My sister, Nancy Wood, wanted to be the family's only child, so my mother had my name changed and handed my identification documents over to my grandmother. She even told me I had to pay for everything if I wanted to live under their roof. The change and coupons Nancy got from her shopping were the sole source of allowance I'd get. If she saved 30 dollars from her shopping trips, I would get 30 dollars next month. It was the last day for all students to enter their applications for college. I begged my sister to let me use her computer. She extended her hand. "You have to pay me 20 bucks." I fished all the money out of my pocket. I only had 19 dollars. So, I hastily blurted in a panic, "I

*** Late that night, Mom went home. She sat alone in the living room for a long time. Then she went to Sadie's room and quietly opened the door. Sadie was asleep. Mom stood by the bed, staring at her. She pulled up Sadie's blanket and smoothed her hair. Then she crossed to the desk and started going through Sadie's backpack. That's when she found it. A pink behind-the-ear hearing aid, with a tiny 'VV' engraved on the side. Vienna's hearing aid.

The flight from Aronespire to Dawnirabay took just an hour and a half, yet as I sat staring out the window, it felt like I was watching half my life flash before my eyes. ... The moment I stepped through the front door of my parents' house, they swarmed me with joy. "Debbie, you're back! Is your work in Aronespire finally finished?" I had never found the courage to tell them about my marriage. For years, I had masked my life there under the guise of a demanding corporate job. "Yeah, it's over. I quit and came home," I murmured, sinking into their warm hugs. Even now, I couldn't bring myself to shatter their happiness with the truth.

He paused for a bit and continued, "But I'll still support you no matter what you choose to do. There's no need for you to return to a home like that anyway." He didn't drive us home that night. Instead, he drove us to the lakeside. A fireworks display lit up the sky, with brilliant bursts reflecting off the shimmering river. Yet it wasn't enough to thaw the chill in my heart. Kevin stopped the car and took my hand again. "You can cry if you want to." I shook my head. My tears had long since dried up. "I just find it… so absurd. As it turned out, 20-something years of family affection couldn't even compare to a stranger's brief companionship or even just a few words of provocation from her."

I can't do it! She saved the last bundle for last. Inside lay a neatly folded piece of paper—the deed to our old house. She said with a hint of guilt, "Your little brother is just five years old, and your parents already bought him a house in the city. I can't afford a big city home, but this old place will shelter you from the wind and rain. "If you ever feel wronged or hurt, you can come back here. And if you miss me, go to the grave at the east end of the village and talk to me—I'll hear you."

Two days later, with the household staff holding me for support, I walked into the Gray family's memorial hall. I sat weakly on a chair while Walter crawled across the floor, looking like a wretched mess. His entire body was covered in wounds and blood. Even his clothes were completely destroyed. It looked like he had suffered a lot in the last few days, most likely having been given a good beating. When he saw me, his eyes flickered with emotion. As for me, I felt a surge of rage when I saw his face. He had killed my child and livestreamed my suffering online.