Chapter Thirty One
Caroline
I stopped by the post office on my way home from work, in search of some stamps.
The little corner parking lot by the miniscule white building holds maybe six cars and I managed to snag the last open one.
With a final deep breath, I verified all of the necessary items were in the envelope before licking the awful tasting glue and sealing it shut.
Last year’s version of Caroline would have never believed me if I said I was willingly turning down hundreds of thousands of dollars in free money.
But was it really free? Somehow, I’ve come to value my freedom more than anything else these days.
And the last thing I want is to be in debt to someone as nasty as them, with money being held over my head.
I just hope my ex-mother-in-law enjoys my strongly worded rejection letter before she shoves it up her ass.
Okay that’s enough, let’s get on with it.
I waltz in through the door, purchase a book of stamps and take it over to the counter to peel one off and put one on the envelope before sliding it into the outgoing mail slot, never to be seen again.
I didn’t want to risk putting it in the mailbox at home with the flag up.
My nosey parents would definitely question it and yes, I know I am a nearly thirty-year-old woman still sneaking around her parent’s house, but give me a break.
Sliding back in the driver’s side seat, I sit in silence for a moment before turning the car back on.
I really thought I was going to feel a little more...
regret? Uncertainty? But instead I feel lighter.
More powerful. Proud of myself. If I’m going to do this my way, I’m going to do this my way.
It’s starting to feel good to just be happy with my life rather than the way it looks.
And now I have the opportunity to do as I please and only share what I please.
I rub my belly and speed off for a celebratory acai bowl, consciously deciding to put the rest of my worries behind me for the evening.