Chapter 5: The Price of Freedom

9

As I packed, I also sorted out the farm tools,

Leaning them against the wall in the yard.

That night, Derek didn’t come home for dinner.

He only returned late at night.

"I helped someone out today, so I stayed for dinner."

That meant he ate with Aubrey.

I silently put the dishes away in the cabinet.

Derek noticed the house was emptier—some of my clothes and daily items were already packed up.

He looked a little surprised:

"Natalie, what’s this?"

He thought I was going to follow him, so he started making excuses:

"Natalie, I can’t bring family with me yet. We talked about this before."

I nodded:

"I know."

I knew that family slot was never meant for me.

"Then what are you…"

I said calmly:

"I’m about to start a new life. Just changing things up a bit."

Derek didn’t ask further.

He set his keys on the counter, glancing at me like he expected a fight. I just kept stacking plates, my silence heavier than any argument. The refrigerator hummed loudly in the silence between us. I watched Derek’s face, searching for a hint of real feeling, but all I saw was the practiced politeness of someone who’s already halfway out the door. I stacked the chipped plates, thinking about how easy it was to erase a life, one cardboard box at a time.

10

In the morning, Aubrey brought the town mayor to see me.

Derek opened the door for them.

They came to discuss swapping land.

The mayor closed the door and spoke earnestly:

"Natalie, I watched you grow up. This land division—it’s one thing on the surface, but in private, there’s always room to negotiate."

"Earlier, Derek came to talk to me about this. Aubrey’s kid is still young—he’s a boy, so he can get land, but there’s no one to manage it."

"Now she’s got such a big plot, and your family’s is too small—not suitable for Derek. If your two families swap, it’d be just right."

The mayor probably meant no harm. But I’d learned the hard way—good intentions didn’t keep you from losing everything.

From a farming ability perspective, it did make sense.

And Derek had a bright future. The mayor could do him a favor—why not?

On the surface, it really did look like my family got a big advantage.

Seeing me silent, Aubrey hid behind Derek:

"Natalie, do you not like me?"

"The other day, I begged Derek for help. I have to look after my kid, I really can’t spare the time."

As she spoke, her eyes turned red.

She looked pitiful. Her voice trembled just enough to sound sincere, but her eyes flicked to Derek every time she spoke. The subtitles in the air were full of rage:

[Ew, this girl is clearly flirting and then pretending to be pitiful, stepping on the main character.]

[The main character is really a doormat. If it were me, I’d slap the main character once, the side girl twice, and the guy with a steel chair.]

[Luckily, the main character seems awake—she shouldn’t agree.]

I pondered a moment and asked the mayor:

"The land swap starts next month, right?"

The mayor nodded.

I steadied myself:

"Alright, then let’s swap."

[What? Main character, what are you doing?]

[No way, I thought the main character woke up and was finally switching from martyr mode to heroine mode.]

[Forget it, main character’s lovesick brain is back—she’s doomed.]

I said to Aubrey and Derek:

"Your kid is still young. You’d better go look after him."

Aubrey shot me a suspicious look, then left with Derek.

After they left, I kept the mayor:

"Mr. Harlan, I have something else I’d like your help with."

I could see the mayor’s mustache twitch with concern as I pulled him aside, the old linoleum creaking beneath our feet. Outside, a pickup rumbled down Main Street, its exhaust echoing through the screen door—a reminder that the world kept spinning, even when your heart felt stuck in place.