I Risked Everything, But You Only Wanted to Escape Unharmed

In less than two days, everything was pretty much packed up.

The moving company came quickly and took all our stuff in one go.

Daniel had been taking care of Tommy for several days without a break, and he was completely worn out.

As soon as he opened the front door at home, he shouted into the dark house.

"Lisa, run a bath for me! I'm exhausted after these days and need a good soak."

Saying that, he kicked off his shoes and slumped lazily onto the sofa.

One minute passed, then two.

Three minutes later, the house was still completely quiet.

Daniel suddenly jumped up from the sofa and called out for me a few times.

The only response was silence.

He quickly turned on the lights and frantically searched the house for me and Katie.

But he only found an empty house with no one else around.

Katie and I had vanished without a trace.

Daniel was stunned and started frantically dialing my number.

Just as I had gotten Katie to sleep, I heard the urgent ringtone from my phone.

Without a doubt, it was Daniel.

I answered the call slowly, without even saying a word.

Daniel's anger came through the phone.

"Lisa, how old are you? Are you really being this childish and running away from home? Bring Katie back right now, or I make you pay!"

I listened to Daniel's shouting with a calm demeanor and curiously asked, "How are you going to make me pay?"

Daniel was taken aback, suddenly at a loss for words.

He never thought I would actually leave him.

Because the moment Daniel showed any sign of anger, I would immediately back down.

It had worked every time.

So Daniel was used to it. He knew exactly how to handle me.

Unfortunately for him, he miscalculated this time.

Without Katie around, I was no longer the soft target he could manipulate.

Taking advantage of Daniel's moment of confusion, I said, "All that's left between us is divorce," and hung up and blocked him all at once.

With no more noise from Daniel, the world finally became quiet.

I glanced at Katie's peaceful sleeping face.

It was quite nice this way.

Life without Daniel didn't change much for me and Katie. We continued with our routine.

She went to school, and I went to work.

After all, Daniel had always been a barely-there presence as a father.

He was absent from every important moment in Katie's life.

We both agreed never to mention him again.

I used to worry that Katie was too young, so I tentatively asked her, "Do you want to see Daddy?"

But Katie firmly replied, "Katie doesn't have a daddy. Katie only has Mommy!" She was so sweet.

At that moment, I hugged Katie tightly.

Now, I am even more convinced that all of this was worth it.

Rather than let Katie yearn for a father's love she couldn't have, it's better to teach her to love herself.

In the days that followed, I stopped paying attention to any news about Daniel.

I thought he was happy confiding in Jessica, but then I saw him in the neighborhood.

I turned to leave, but Daniel was quick to block my path.

"Lisa, are you still not done with all this drama after so many days?"