I didn’t yell or cause a scene. I simply told him that he had twenty-four hours to pack his belongings and leave the apartment.

By the end of the week, Glenn was gone, along with all his things. I packed up my own belongings, handed the keys back to the landlord, and officially moved into my grandfather’s lake house on my own. Standing on the porch, looking out over the quiet water, I felt a deep sense of relief washed over me. It had taken eleven years to see the truth, but protecting my grandfather’s gift allowed me to finally reclaim my own future.