Garrett walks up to me , guilt in his eyes : " Roxanne , I want to adopt you as my daughter . You'll be part of the Sinclair family from now on . I'll make everything up to you . " look at his sincere expression , warmth flooding my heart . someone wants me . Someone's willing to give me a home . But the next second , Marlena's words echo in my ears : " You're just a tool . " No thanks . " stand up , my voice colder than I expected . " I don't need a father . " te freezes , hurt flashing in his eyes . turn and walk away without looking back , but each step feels incredibly heavy . use the compensation money to rent a small apartment and re - enroll in high school . ty classmates are all three or four years younger than me. try hard to fit into their world , but when the night gets quiet , that loneliness still crashes over me like a tide . month before the college entrance exam , my homeroom teacher calls me in for a talk . Roxanne , your grades are excellent . You should consider applying to top universities . Any ideas about what you want to study ? " shake my head . only know I need to leave this place . is for where to go or what to do , I've never thought about it . lecause my whole life , no one has ever asked me what I wanted . The afternoon after finishing the college entrance exam , my phone rings . rs a photo from Brighton . fe's standing in a hospital room , leg still in a brace , but he can walk . in the photo , he's smiling shyly , eyes clear and bright . I stare at the photo for a long time , emotions churning inside me . He saved me , nearly died doing it . But there's too much between us - all that pain , those misunderstandings , and the shadow Marlena left behind . I text back two words : Take care . Then I delete his contact . Some people are destined to be just passersby in your life . Even if they were once so important . I come to the marina alone . Three years ago , I waited here for Marlena to come back Back then , I naively believed that if I was good enough , she would love me . The sea breeze blows , carrying that familiar salty smell , and those painful memories flash before me . 22-23 30.2 % Chapter 9 " Mom , I'm not waiting for you anymore , " I say to the ocean , my voice trembling I've already decided to let go , but when I say these words , tears still fall traitorously The wind carries my voice away with no echo . Just like all these twenty years - all my calls have had no echo . I turn and leave the docks , walking toward the bus stop . Each step is saying goodbye to my past self . Tomorrow I'll report to university . My new life is about to begin . This time . I'm not waiting for someone to save me . I'm going to use my own hands to live the life I want . The bus arrives , I get on and pay the fare . The driver is a middle - aged man who looks kind : " Where to , young lady ? " Train station . " Going on a long trip ? " Yeah , to college . " le smiles : " That's great ! Study hard . When you make something of yourself , don't forget your family . " amily ? smile bitterly . What family do I have left ? sit by the window , watching the scenery flash by outside . his city holds too many painful memories for me , and I can finally say goodbye . hat why does my heart still feel reluctant ? he bus passes that familiar street , and I see the apartment complex where I used to live . here are traces of the life Marlena and I shared there , memories of being beaten and scolded , and my once naive fantasies . sit really all in the past ? Ve reach the train station . I get off and drag my suitcase into the waiting hall . I's crowded and nonsy . Everyone has their own destination , people waiting for them to come home . find a corner and sit down , pulling out my acceptance letter to read again . thas my name on it flors Channing This is the pain I chose for myself , and its the syndol of my fresh start but wont starting over alone be too lonely ? The announcement comes on " Train to flucago is now boarding I stand up and walk toward the gate The city behind me gradually fades away , and ahead lies an unknown future . I'm not afraid anymore 22.23 From Beloved Daughter to Dead Burden ? Now Woods Your Perfect Family BURNE 30.59 % Chapter 9 Because this time , I'm living for myself .