My mother started to cry. Her hand shot to cover her mouth as she took a step back.
“That was hard to hear, wasn’t it?” I said softly. “But it’s the goddamn truth.”
“Sloane.” My father’s hand trembled as he pulled the oxygen mask away, his breath shallow. His voice came out rough, barely above a whisper. “You... can’t talk like that.” He winced mid-sentence, as if even speaking cost him pain. “We’re your parents.”
I stared at him, then shook my head. “No, Father. I’ve had plenty of examples right in front of me, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized what real parents look like. I’ve seen how Cameron is with Harper—how they’re not just father and daughter, but friends too. He never hesitates to show her how much he loves her. She loved him and felt safe with him. Even when they lived in separate houses, Harper never once felt left behind, because he always made time for her. That’s what a father should be. Making every minute count.”
I shifted my gaze to my mother, who was now sobbing.
“And I’ve seen what a good mother is supposed to be in Anita, in Caroline. The way they put their children first without making them feel like an obligation. They’re patient, even when they’re tired. They listen, even when the words are hard to hear. They make sure their children know they’re loved, not just because they say it, but because they prove it every single day. They protect without controlling, guide without shaming, and make sacrifices without keeping score. They give their children a home that feels safe, not just a roof over their heads.”
My eyes slid back to my father.
“And none of that was ever given to Xander or me. Not once did we feel it. Every memory I have of my youth was only pain and anguish. Nothing else.”
“We did...” My father’s voice was weak and strained as he fought for each breath. “What we thought was best for you both.”
“I’ve asked you this before.” I gritted my teeth, voice trembling with fury. “Was it working?” The anger inside me exploded as I screamed, “Did it work, Father? What was the fucking outcome of your ‘better’ method?!”
They couldn’t answer me. Of course, they couldn’t.
“Your voice was always too loud in my head—so loud it drowned out everything else. I didn’t know how to handle it, so I shut down. Locked myself away. And in doing that, I hurt people. Especially Cameron. And every single day, I prayed I never made Harper doubt for even a second that I loved her.” I paused, swallowing the pain that always surfaced with that word.
I was shaking, and I was crying. I let him see the vulnerable side of me, which he had spent years suppressing, belittling, and making me believe was wrong.
“And I want it all to stop. I don’t want to be scared anymore. I don’t want to keep hurting. I just want to be done.”
I glanced back and saw Cameron standing behind me, fully alert. When he gave me a slight smile, I knew he was proud—proud that I finally let the demons out and that I wasn’t afraid anymore to show all parts of myself, the strong, the weak, and every flawed piece in between.
“Sloane,” my mother began, but then paused, as if unsure what she wanted to say.
I knew this was shocking to them because I was usually silent and accepting. Never once did I speak what I truly felt.
“What, Mother?” My voice was soft but sharp. “You finally have something to say? Want to defend yourself?” I shook my head and let out a bitter laugh. “It’s too late now. Nothing you say can erase decades of abuse. Nothing. And most of all, I will never forgive you for what you did to Xander. I will never be able to let go of the hate.”
She cried harder, and for the life of me, I couldn’t find it in me to care.
“And now I’m going to leave you both. Not just leave this room, I’m leaving both of you forever because I want to be free. I want to be happy. To do that, I have to never see you again. Neither of you. And most importantly, I don’t want either of you near Harper. Never.”
“We’re your parents, Sloane,” my father said hoarsely. “We’re blood. You can’t erase blood.” He paused, his breath shaky and uneven. “No matter what has happened, that bond stays. It’s unbreakable.”
“I’m going to break it, Father,” I said firmly. “I want you both out of my life. If there is even the slightest care for me in you, then give it to me. For my sake and Harper’s. Give me the peace I need by staying far away from us.”
I stepped back, putting space between us until I was standing right next to Cameron. “My life is better without you. I’ve never been happier. Don’t even think about fucking it up.”
Then I turned and walked out, not waiting for a response. Cameron followed, a silent shadow at my back.
I moved on autopilot, my chest tight, my breath shallow. The elevator doors slid open just as I reached them—a small mercy. I stepped inside, Cameron beside me, and jabbed the button for the rooftop. The space wasn’t empty; a couple of strangers stood around us, forcing me to clench my fists and shut my eyes to hold myself together.
Three more floors. Two more floors.
Finally, the last person stepped out. The doors closed. Silence.
When the doors opened again, the rooftop stretched out beyond the glass door—empty and exposed, the sky still heavy with darkness. Five a.m., and the world hadn’t woken up yet.
I stepped into the antechamber, Cameron right behind me. The door closed softly behind us, leaving just the two of us as we looked out at the quiet rooftop.
I turned to face him. His expression was raw with worry, his eyes searching mine.
