Dreadnought (Nemesis, #1)

by April Daniels

it occurs to me I should be more upset. Like, I’m out here in the woods because I’m homeless, right? And yeah, I am bothered. I’m more than bothered. I’m pissed and scared and I feel lost. But I’m not shattered. Last night, I expected to wake up broken, nothing more than a torn-up, chewed-out, smaller half of what used to be a person. But I feel whole. Really, completely whole. Strip away everything: my house, my stuff, my family. Strip away the Legion, and Calamity, and my secret identity. Everything. What’s left? What’s left are the things I can count on. I have my body, my powers, and my freedom. Maybe that will be enough. It will have to be. For the first time in my life, I am completely in charge of myself. With that realization comes a misty relief that settles in the bottom of my chest. It’s over. All that shit with Mom and Dad—it’s done. My whole life has been leading up to this moment, and now there’s nothing else they can do to me. No more lies, no more pretending, no more shouting. No more pain. I’m free. Whatever else will suck about this week, I’m free.