Chapter 50

• Grabbing the nearest sandwich bag, she presses it against her mouth in a desperate attempt to stave off the encroaching panic attack. Sliding down to the floor, she gasps for air, endeavoring to restrain the rising tide of fear. Tears stream down her face, releasing the flood of emotions she had kept tightly contained.
• "You were spot on about hiring the Emmerson twins; even with a hectic lunch and dinner rush, I feel like I haven't done much today," Glenda remarked as she helped Sophia stack up the chairs on the tables to prepare for mopping the floors. Downstairs, the girls were bidding farewell to the last of the diners, bringing a sense of normalcy after a challenging period. Sophia was beginning to relax once more, her high stress levels gradually easing as Glenda's presence brought a sense of calm.
• Leon and his friends had finally departed, bringing a sigh of relief for Sophia. However, the morning after the storm, nightmares had plagued her for the past three days, reeling her back into the accident, the water, and the night of the crash. His parting words, expressing his desire to keep her out of his life, and the distress of seeing him with another woman, all resurfaced, thrusting her back into an emotional turmoil that left her tearful and vulnerable. She abhorred the resurgence of her painful past, knowing he was the root cause.