Chapter 2 - The Silent Account
The first week in Clara’s apartment felt like a dream. The guest room was spacious, filled with natural light, and quiet. There was no yelling, no smell of stale cigarette smoke from the backyard, and no one stealing my keys or my money.
On Tuesday morning, my phone buzzed. It was an automated notification from my banking app: AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PRE-AUTHORIZATION: $2,450.00 to Austin National Mortgage.
I stared at the screen. For three years, this transaction had gone through without a second thought. It was the price of keeping my parents housed, the price of my own peace of mind. But peace hadn't been bought; it had only been delayed.
I tapped the screen, navigated to my scheduled transfers, and selected the recurring mortgage payment.
CANCEL RECURRING TRANSACTION? the prompt asked.
My finger didn't tremble as I pressed YES.
I did the same for the electricity bill, the high-speed fiber internet, and the family streaming accounts. Finally, I opened my credit card portal. Jason had an authorized user card on my account "for emergencies." I looked at the recent charges: $120 at an online gaming store, $45 at a local vape shop, and $80 at a trendy bar.
I clicked DEACTIVATE CARD and reported it lost.
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"What are you doing?" Clara asked, walking into the kitchen with two mugs of coffee.
"I'm turning off the lights," I said, taking a mug from her. "They wanted me out of their lives. I'm just making sure I don't leave any of my shadows behind."
