Chapter 28

Larkin

Iwas pleasantly surprised when Bronwyn asked if we could do our first session in the woods.

"I love nature. The sounds of the animals, the smells of the trees and earth and fresh water nearby." She stopped and tipped her head back, closing her eyes. "There's nothing like being surrounded by all of this but knowing you're free."

I lifted my head and stared at the canopy, the breeze blowing the leaves, a bird flying overhead, and all the sounds of wildlife and nature that centered me unexplainably.

When I looked over at Bronwyn again, she was already watching me, this intense, yet open expression on her face.

"Tell me the very first memory you have, Larkin." She gestured for us to keep walking, and so we did that in silence for long moments.

"My first memory?"

She made a sound of agreement but I kept my focus forward, thinking, drawing up my last memory and rewinding all the way back until I was a child.

"I was sitting on my bed and my sister was brushing my hair." I envisioned that time. I hadn't thought about it in forever. "We'd just gone to the lake. She was showing me how to swim."

"What was your sister's name?"

I exhaled as grief choked me up. "Brisa. It means breeze." I laughed softly as I remembered when my mother told us the story of why they picked that name for her. "The weather was horrible when Brisa was born. Rain and wind. So much wind that shingles were flying off the roof, my father said."

Before I knew it, I was telling her the entire story, reminiscing about things my father had said, how my sister would tease me. We walked until we found ourselves at the little cottage Odhran had built for me. The entire time, Bronwyn listened. She didn't rush me, didn't interrupt me. She just… listened.

"I'm not the conventional type of therapist," she finally said after I was done sifting through all my memories and we stood at the water's edge by the lake, the cottage behind us, a soft, warm breeze blowing. "Our kind, the Otherworld, it isn't as if we're conventional sort of creatures. Sitting in an office across from each other, with a notepad in my hand and asking rapid-fire questions isn't going to help heal anyone."

I looked down as the waves gently lapped at my bare toes. I'd taken off my shoes as soon as we got into the water, and let the healing properties of it help further comfort and relax me.

"I hope I'm not prying, but when Luna gave me your information, she mentioned you'd understand." I didn't specify on that detail, because as we stared at each other, her expression told me she knew what I meant. She truly did understand.

She nodded and slipped her hands into the pockets of her slacks as she gazed out over the lake. "We all have some kind of trauma in our lives, some of it not as intense as others. And some people can navigate their life around it, through it. But sometimes when the pain is too much, too unbearable, and lasts too long, it's impossible to figure out how to live with it without some help."

She glanced at me then and gave me a smile, one that was sad, one that told me she was part of the latter.

"And helping people is how I'm navigating mine."

That sad smile turned into something of acceptance, contentment, and an empathetic pleasure that she was able to bring some kind of ease to others in their hour of darkness.

My throat felt tight and I had to quickly glance away, blinking rapidly as her words were so raw they ripped me open.

"Everyone has hope. Everyone has the promise of being happy, Larkin." Her voice was gentle. I didn't know what else to say, didn't know if I could say anything at all.

We stood there for long moments, the gentle quietness of nature the only background noise we needed.

Before I realized it, our hour had passed and we were heading back to the estate. We stopped by her car and she gave me another soft smile. "I'd love to see you again, if you'd like that."

I was nodding before she even finished.

"I'd like to start with a couple days a week, just so we can acclimate ourselves to each other and become familiar with how things are between us. I want you to be able to trust me wholeheartedly. I want you to be able to look at me and know that you can trust me with your pain."

Before I realized what I was doing, I hugged her, whispering my thanks, feeling like I was doing the right thing.

"It'll be okay," she said softly, and tightened her arms around me before pulling back. "We are stronger than we think, than anyone else can ever give us credit for."

With one more parting smile, she headed back to her car, climbed in, and drove off. I stood there for a second just watching her leave, standing still as the gates opened up for her, then closed back securely after she passed through them.

I looked over my shoulder to see Odhran standing by the front door, his hands in the pockets of his jeans, a concerned look on his face. I exhaled and felt so much pressure and weight lift off me.

It was now my job to make sure I followed through on the right path that would lead to healing, happiness, and a fulfilled life.

I was not only going to help myself, but I was going to learn how to help others, as well.