but his tone was just… too composed. Then Mark, my best friend Tasha’s boyfriend (and Derek’s friend), pulled me aside and confessed: Derek had taken the passport. He was scared I’d cheat while away and hid it in his suitcase. I was stunned. All his “worry” suddenly looked a lot more like manipulation. I didn’t confront him outright. Instead, I pretended to give up. When my friends arrived for the trip, we played along. “I guess I’m not going,”I said. Derek looked relieved—until the girls started talking about wild local alternatives: firemen dancers, rooftop clubs, chocolate body painting. That’s when he exploded, shouting that he wouldn’t “allow” any of it. That was his mistake. I stood up, pulled my passport from my pocket, and said, “You’re right. There’s no bachelorette trip—because no one’s getting married. I know what you did.”He tried to argue, but it was over. I told him to pack and leave. The lease was in my name. That trip became more than a celebration—it was a turning point. On the beach under the stars,
I thought about all the times I’d let his jealousy silence me. Not anymore. Months later, I met someone at a pottery studio. He admired my lopsided mug from the trip like it was a masterpiece. When he invited me to a ceramics conference in Vancouver, I didn’t hesitate.This time, I had my passport—and my freedom.
