Ashes to Ashes

Tessa is seen in the cozy, dimly lit living room, standing before a large, roaring fireplace. With a steady hand, she methodically tosses old photographs into the fire, her expression a mix of determination and relief. The glow of the fire casts shadows across her face, emphasizing her resolute stance.

Tessa's final act of rebellion had begun.

Close-up shot of Tessa's hand holding a sepia-toned wedding portrait, poised over the flames. Smoke curls around the edges of the photograph as it begins to catch fire. Tessa's face is partially visible, her eyes reflecting the dancing flames.

'Forgive me, Gran...'

The perspective shifts to the mantle above the fireplace, where other old photographs and trinkets show an illustrious yet troubled family history. Tessa stands in the background, still focused on the fire, her smirk evident.

'Family tradition ends here.'

Tessa pulls out a particularly creased photograph of an ornery-looking great-uncle. Her dark chuckle escapes her lips as she holds the photograph up for a final look before it meets the flames. Her reflection in the glass of a nearby framed photo shows the fire's dancing light in her eyes.

'You'd approve, old man.'

Close-up shot of the last unburned photograph in Tessa's hand. Her expression shifts to uncertainty as she stares down at it. The room's shadows seem to loom around her, the firelight flickering on the hesitant look in her eyes.

'But what if...?'