The Cruise I Never Took—and the Life I Finally Claimed

So there I was, enjoying my peaceful house, eating toast with marmalade, and flipping through an old mystery novel. I had no guilt. Well… maybe a pinch. But not enough to ruin my tea. Still, every so often, I found myself glancing at the clock, imagining where they were, what they were saying about me.

The cruise departed that evening. I knew they’d be frantically trying to text me once they realized I hadn’t arrived at the airport. I’d already turned off my phone. Not out of spite—but because I wasn’t ready to be pulled back in.