Chapter 15 - BENEATH THE PACIFIC SUN
Six months after the midnight lockout, I stood barefoot on my oceanfront Malibu deck beneath a brilliant, cloudless Pacific sun. The white linen sofa was spotless, the copper pans gleamed in the open kitchen, and the smart-home dashboard glowed with quiet, green verification lights indicating all doors were securely locked.
I held a steaming mug of coffee in one hand, watching a pod of dolphins break the surface of the glittering blue water just beyond the surf line. A gentle ocean breeze rustled my hair, carrying no drama, no guilt trips, and no unexpected visitors. I took a slow, deep breath of the salt air, smiling as I realized that the caption my mother had posted months ago had finally become an absolute, unshakeable reality: Finally, peace without the drama.
