Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T WAITING ANYMORE
After the meeting, I expected to feel devastated.
Instead, I felt lighter.
Adrian had apologized.
I had listened.
And then I had gone home alone.
No dramatic reunion.
No passionate kiss.
No promise that everything would return to normal.
Because normal had nearly destroyed me.
The next morning, I went to the institute.
Noah was already there.
He looked up from his computer.
“Morning.”
“Morning.”
He studied me.
“You okay?”
I nodded.
“Actually, yes.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
We spent the day reviewing our latest observations.
By evening, we had enough evidence to submit an abstract to a major astrophysics conference.
Professor Whitcomb read it.
Then looked at me.
“Claire, I want you to present.”
I froze.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
I stared.
“It's been years since I've spoken at a conference.”
She smiled.
“Then it's time.”
My heart raced.
The conference would be held in Seattle.
Hundreds of researchers.
Leading scientists.
Potential collaborators.
Everything I'd once dreamed of.
I accepted.
That night, I called my mother.
She answered immediately.
“Claire?”
“Mom.”
“What's wrong?”
I laughed.
“Nothing.”
A pause.
“Really?”
I smiled.
“Really.”
I told her about the conference.
The research.
The divorce.
The meeting with Adrian.
She listened quietly.
Then said:
“I'm proud of you.”
My throat tightened.
“For what?”
“For coming back to yourself.”
I began crying.
She waited.
Then added:
“Your father always said you were born looking at the sky.”
I laughed through tears.
“He did.”
“And now you're finally looking up again.”
I stood by the window.
The night was clear.
Stars glittered above the rooftops.
For the first time in five years, I felt like the woman I'd been before Adrian.
But stronger.
May you like
Because now I knew how much it cost to lose myself.
And I wasn't willing to pay that price again.
