On Her Own Terms

The plane touched down at JFK just after noon.

The landing was smooth. Controlled. Quiet.

Sylvie kept her eyes on the window as the runway rushed past. Gray sky. Cold light. February in New York.

Six months ago she had left this city in silence. Humiliated. Broken. Pushed out of her own life.

Now she was returning by choice.

Different.

Stronger.

Beside her, Evan unbuckled his seat belt. “We’re her