Chapter 8 - THE HEALING
Leo was finally back home, his youthful energy and bright laughter slowly returning, though he still eyed every single glass of liquid with deep suspicion. We painted his bedroom a bright, cheerful blue, kept all the doors unlocked, and surrounded him with an unyielding wall of love and protection. Clara took to sleeping on a cot right beside his bed, her maternal instincts transformed into a fierce, protective shield.
We weren't just recovering from a trauma; we were actively rebuilding our lives from the foundation up. The physical house felt entirely different without the looming, judgmental shadow of the woman who had poisoned its air for decades. For the first time in our lives, we were breathing freely.
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