Chapter 29

• The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the tranquil garden, dappling the flagstones with light and shade. Cleo sat on a weathered stone bench, the rough texture a comforting contrast to the smoothness of the polished pebbles she nervously rotated in her palm. The scent of lavender and honeysuckle hung heavy in the air, a fragrant balm against the invisible wounds that still plagued her. This secluded corner of Dr. Alistair’s garden, hidden from the prying eyes of the world, felt like a sanctuary, a space where she could finally confront the ghosts of her past without fear of judgment.
• It had been months since she’d escaped Julian’s suffocating control, months since Rowan had pulled her from the wreckage of her life. Months filled with the quiet joy of rediscovering herself, the simple pleasures of a life free from fear. Yet, a shadow still lingered, a persistent ache that no amount of sunshine or Rowan’s unwavering love could completely erase. The trauma of her marriage, like a persistent weed, stubbornly refused to be uprooted.
• Dr. Alistair, a kindly man with eyes that seemed to see beyond the surface, had gently suggested this session outdoors. He understood the need for a space that felt both secure and open, a place where Cleo could connect with the natural world, finding solace in its restorative power. She’d initially resisted, the idea of confronting her deepest fears feeling too daunting, too overwhelming. But the quiet strength of Rowan's support, his patient understanding, had finally given her the courage to face the shadows that still haunted her.