Leaving Was The Only War I Won Novels & Stories

Alicia would return in an urn. … Julian drove to the airport. Alicia kept talking to him, but he barely responded. The despondency in his face told her that his heart and soul were still with Willow. Still, it was enough that she had him with her, albeit only physically. He turned on the radio, which happened to play a sad song called "Is This How We Lose Each Other". The lyrics went like this: "We just brushed past each other. He said nothing when he left. But do the silent ones not cry?

He says finally, his voice quiet. I hesitate. I know I can’t afford to stay put, though the thought of leaving my beloved apartment permanently pains me. However, the thought of the wicked gleam in the blonde man’s eyes and his threatening words is enough motivation. “We need to swing by my apartment and grab Berlioz and some of my belongings.” I reply finally, my throat tightening slightly at the expression of his face.

SARAH'S POV: As I stood in my father's company, looking out over the city that had been the backdrop to this epic battle—a battle for survival, for control, for legacy. I felt a profound sense of accomplishment. The skyscrapers rose high above the clouds, their glass windows reflecting the dying light of the sun. I could see it all now—every corner, every street, every building that had witnessed the storm I’d fought through. This city had been a battlefield, and I had emerged victorious, my resolve unbroken. But the war wasn’t over yet. The real work was just beginning.

My vow settles deep, steady, unshakable. No more tears. No more weakness. No more love. Only war. And in this war, I won’t just win. I’ll make him wish he had never left me alive.

And I thought… That if anyone ever asked me what winning felt like, I’d say this: It’s not a scream. It’s not an explosion. It’s not a standing ovation. It’s breathing without fear. Sleeping without a gun under your pillow. Sitting with the ones you love… and not needing to say anything. Maddox closed the file and spoke for the first time in hours: "When I was a kid, I thought war was the only thing we knew how to do right." "And now?" I asked. "Now I don’t know." Dax jumped in, with his half-smile.

I knew it was their way of making it up to me, but honestly, I didn't need it anymore. After years of focused research, several projects I had worked on achieved breakthroughs. The bonuses I received were more than enough for me to live comfortably on my own for a long time. I never went back home—not until Riley fell ill. I took a short leave to visit them, stayed a few days, and left again. My parents seemed to have accepted reality. The damage had already been done. There was no fixing it. Still, at every lecture I gave, I would spot two familiar figures in the corner.

"I love you." "I love you too but sometimes love is not enough. Loyalty is important too. Promise me you won't leave me, you'll always love me" "Ayana I..." His phone rang. It was his lawyer. "I have to take this, I'll be back. I love you" he kissed her lips and left her room. His lawyer called to inform about a meeting with Claire's lawyer about Auxton Oaks. Oliver said he would be present at the meeting. He hoped Claire would also be there. He went to meet the Chef when he was done with the call and got the food for Ayana.

Plucking the soda can pull tab that he called my wedding band, I flung it into a trash can and headed out with my suitcase. There was nothing in there, aside from some bleached clothes, my mother's ashes, and my academic certificates. However, I had just reached the door when Eliza the chef called out to me, looking at me sideways and scoffing hostilely. "Just give up already. You'll just come back like you did all the time before! What's even the point of such cheap drama?" It wasn't a surprise that she didn't respect me, when her salary was a ton better than my monthly allowance.

“Even if you never come back. I’ll still be here. Waiting.” I didn’t answer. I walked out of the car anyway. Not once did I look back. Because sometimes, the only way to win a war with your heart… is to let it break.

The first month after I left, I went to a coastal city I had always dreamed of visiting to relax and heal. It was where I ran into my college senior, Theodore Ramsey. I didn't know anyone in the city, and my body was still weak from the abortion. That month, Theodore helped me a lot. I'd always been sensitive about feelings, and when I noticed the way he looked at me was more than just friendship, I chose to say goodbye and head to my next destination.