The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the sprawling estate that Juno Bright called home. From the outside, it was a picture of opulence—marble columns, manicured lawns, and a fountain that sparkled in the fading light. But inside, the walls echoed with the unspoken pain of a woman trapped in an abusive marriage.

Juno stood in her workshop, a small room cluttered with tools, half-finished inventions, and scattered blueprints. It was her sanctuary, a place where she could breathe and dream, even as the shadows of her reality crept in. With three children to care for, her days were consumed by their needs, but the nights were hers to reclaim.

“Mom, can you help me with this?” her youngest daughter, Mia, called from the other room, interrupting her thoughts.

“Coming, sweetie!” Juno replied, casting one last longing glance at her unfinished project—a device designed to help busy parents manage their time more effectively. Someday, she promised herself. Someday.

As she stepped into the living room, the warmth of the space contrasted sharply with the chill of anxiety that settled in her stomach. Mia, only four years old, was standing beside a pile of toys, her big brown eyes wide and pleading. “I can’t reach the top shelf!”

Juno knelt down, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. “Let me help you with that,” she said, lifting Mia onto her hip and reaching for the toy that had become just out of reach. Their bond was her anchor, a reminder of what was worth fighting for.

Suddenly, the front door slammed shut, rattling the house and sending a jolt of fear through Juno. She glanced at Mia, who instinctively clung to her, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.