CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT – FINDING HER PURPOSE

As the evening wore on, Cassie found herself doing something she hadn't done in weeks – making plans. She jotted down ideas for weekend trips she wanted to take, classes she might like to try. She even drafted a rough budget, calculating how much she could save if she picked up a few extra shifts. By the time she crawled into bed, Cassie felt a sense of anticipation she hadn't experienced in a long time. Tomorrow was a new day, full of possibilities. And for the first time since her breakup with Alex, she was looking forward to it. As she drifted off to sleep, Cassie's last thoughts weren't of Alex, or of the pain she'd endured. Instead, she found herself thinking of the future – her future. It was still hazy, still uncertain, but it was hers. And that, she realized, was something to be excited about. The next morning, Cassie woke up before her alarm, feeling refreshed and energized. As she got ready for work, she caught herself smiling at her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't a b