Mari glanced around warily.

Six months ago, she’d left her home … she just couldn’t take it anymore. She knew who her family wanted her to be, but she just wasn’t able. Connor tried, at least she thought he tried, but he couldn’t relate. He was always their perfect child, the one they held up every time they told Mari what she should have been.

Well, no matter. That part of her life was over now. She was finally free. She could be herself without having to worry about what everyone else thought.

But, still — she heard another noise and glanced around again — there were nights like tonight where she almost wished she could be home.