A Forgotten Kindness and a New Beginning

VANESSA

The scent of lavender oil filled Dr. Keane's office, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket as I sat cross-legged on the plush meditation cushion. The room was dimly lit, with only a few strategically placed candles casting warm, dancing shadows across the walls.

"Focus on your breathing," Dr. Keane instructed, her voice low and soothing. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Let each breath ground you deeper into this moment."

I closed my eyes, following her directions. The smooth river stone she'd placed in my palm felt cool against my skin. A grounding stone, she'd called it. Something to anchor me to the present while my mind traveled to the past.

"That's it," she encouraged. "Now, I want you to think back to that fragment you mentioned last time. The woods. The feeling of being small. Can you find that memory for me?"