Chapter 80 Home

ELARA
The journey home was quiet but everything between us had changed in the best way. I sat on the plane looking out the window at the clouds and thought about how different I felt now. I was no longer the guarded woman who boarded the first plane with Mateo. That woman had been careful and always ready for trouble. This new me laughed more easily and reached for Mateo’s hand without thinking about it. I turned to look at him sleeping beside me and smiled without meaning to. His face looked peaceful and I felt a warm feeling spread through my chest. The trip had shown me so many beautiful things but the biggest change was inside me. I was starting to imagine a future instead of only planning how to survive the next day. That felt new and a little scary but mostly exciting.
Mateo woke up slowly and caught me watching him. He smiled sleepily and took my hand.