Never Again in This Life Chapter 12

Never Again in This Life Chapter 12

A year later, my life in London was stable and quiet.

I had grown to love the city.

My grades had always been good, but now, the high marks I earned felt different. They were mine. Every step I took, I took on my own.

The accomplishments I earned myself felt more real than any empty promises from my past.

More importantly, I received an internship offer from a top design firm.

Grandma’s health had improved, too, which brought me a deep sense of peace.

She no longer seemed as lost or confused, and she rarely asked where she was.

The sunlight, the garden, and the quiet rhythm of our new life suited her.

She even began trying to chat with the elderly woman next door in her halting English.

Sometimes they would sit together in the garden for hours, Grandma gesturing with her hands while the neighbor listened with a patient smile.

I often found myself pausing to watch them, a warmth spreading through my chest.

To celebrate my internship, I took Grandma to Hyde Park for a picnic.

The weather was perfect. I took a photo of us together.

In the picture, Grandma was beaming, and my own smile was genuine and relaxed.

On impulse, I posted the photo to the Instagram account I hadn’t touched in a year, with a simple two-word caption:

New life.

I’d forgotten that I hadn’t blocked anyone on that account.

Not long after the photo went up, Mia sent me a screenshot, followed by a string of exclamation points.

“Tessa, you’ve officially driven them insane. Maddox and Sterling have been looking for you for a year. They’re probably booking flights to London as we speak.”

I opened the comments on my post and saw two new messages.

Maddox: “Tessa, where are you? Please come back. I was wrong.”

Sterling: “Tell me your address. I’ll come find you.”