who repeatedly ignored them had.
I used to think keeping the peace was worth almost any sacrifice.
But peace that exists only because one person keeps surrendering isn’t peace.
It’s compliance.
That night, I locked the front door.
Not because I was afraid someone would come back.
Because I liked hearing the click.
My house.
My key.
My decision.
Then I stood in the middle of the marble floor and listened.
No arguments.
No orders.
No footsteps belonging to someone who assumed they could take whatever they wanted.
For the
