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"Thank you," Roxannewhispered, the beginnings of her usual fire reigniting within her eyes, a sparkthat promised a return to her former vibrancy. "I needed to hearthat."
"Anytime," Charlotte replied,her voice the gentle brush of waves upon sand, promising eternal support."That's what I'm here for."
Charlotte reached for her sister'shand, her fingers lightly brushing against Roxanne's as if to transfer strengththrough their touch. "Let's get out of here," she suggested softly,her voice imbued with the calm certainty that often comes after storms of theheart have raged. "A new setting might do us some good."
Roxanne nodded, her red-rimmed eyessearching Charlotte's face for a hint of insincerity and finding none. Sheallowed herself to be led by the hand, drawing comfort from the silent promisewoven into the gesture. "Okay," she replied, her voice a fragilewhisper that barely carried over the hum of the hotel air conditioning.
Charlotte led the way, her stridepurposeful yet unhurried as they meandered through the cobblestone streets ofChesham Cove. The quaint shops were closing, their warm lights slowly winkingout one by one, casting elongated shadows that danced upon the pavement. Thevillage was quiet.
A few minutes later, they arrived at asmall secluded park, nestled between ancient oak trees that whispered storiesof old. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground with patchesof silver. Charlotte guided Roxanne to a wrought-iron bench, its intricatepatterns cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the warmth of human comfortit was about to embrace.
"Here," Charlotte saidgently, touching the bench as if to imbue it with an invitation for release andreflection. "We can talk here without the world intruding."
Roxanne sat, folding her hands in herlap, her gaze drifting across the serene landscape before them. The park was atranquil oasis, a slice of nature's reprieve amidst personal tempests. Shecould hear the distant lapping of the waves against the shore, a rhythmicreminder that life was vast and ever-changing.
"Charlotte... I feel sofoolish," Roxanne began, her voice barely above a whisper, breaking thesanctity of the stillness around them. "Thomas just walked away, declaringme too abrasive. It’s like I'm destined to be alone because I'm too much—toooutspoken, too bold."
"Roxanne," Charlotte replied,her voice soft but firm, "being true to yourself is never a fault.Thomas's inability to appreciate your spirit isn't a reflection on you—it's onhim."
Roxanne looked up, her eyes seekingcertainty in Charlotte's face. "But what if no one can truly handle me?What if I am meant to be alone?"
"Look around us, Roxie,"Charlotte coaxed, gesturing to the natural beauty encircling them. "Thisvillage, the sea, the sky—they don’t change who they are to fit into someoneelse's idea of what's palatable. And neither should you. You’re vibrant andfierce, and anyone worthy of you would celebrate that, not cower from it."
A faint smile tugged at Roxanne's lips,her sister's words weaving through her doubts like threads of hope mendingfrayed edges. "I just thought he was different, you know?" sheconfessed, her shoulders slumping as if releasing the burden of pretense.
"He may have seemed different, butactions speak, Rox. His left him sorely lacking," Charlotte said, reachingout to squeeze Roxanne’s hand reassuringly.
"Thank you, Lottie. For listening,for understanding." Roxanne's voice trembled, vulnerability threadingthrough her usual sass.
"Always," Charlotte affirmed,her presence a silent vow of unwavering support. "Just remember, you'renot alone. You have me, and this village is now part of your story too. We'reall a little broken, but together, we find ways to mend."
The sisters sat shoulder to shoulder,and Charlotte took a deep breath, the cool night air filling her lungs as sheturned to face Roxanne, her gaze holding an empathy born of shared heartache.
"Rox," she began, her voicegentle, "I've been where you are now. After Daniel told me he wanted adivorce, I felt like I was adrift at sea without a compass. But here’s what Ilearned: we can't let someone else's departure dictate our worth."
Roxanne listened, her tear-stained eyesreflecting the fragile silver light, searching Charlotte's face for solace.
"Every time I walked by themirror, I saw a woman defined by absence—his absence. It took coming here, toChesham Cove, to realize that I'm so much more. That I am whole on myown."
Charlotte paused, watching a distantlighthouse blink steadily against the dark horizon. She imagined each pulse oflight as a heartbeat, a reminder that life goes on, relentless and beautiful.
"Remember how we used to buildsandcastles as kids?" Charlotte continued, a small smile playing on herlips. "We'd craft them with such care, only to watch the tide wash themaway. Yet, we always built anew. That's resilience. That's us."
In the quiet that followed, Roxannedrew in a shuddering breath, the weight of her fears beginning to lift ever soslightly. The sound of the distant waves whispered promises of renewal, theirrhythmic cadence a balm to her wounded spirit.
"Char, I’m scared of ending upalone," Roxanne admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Of having awork legacy only—which, what is that, even? It fades with every new board ofdirectors.
"Being alone doesn't mean beinglonely," Charlotte countered softly. "You have a fire in you, Rox. Astrength that's all your own. Thomas—or anyone else for that matter—doesn't getto snuff that out."
As Roxanne absorbed her sister's words,a shift occurred within her. It was subtle, like the tide pulling away from theshore, but it was there—a burgeoning realization that she was stronger than therejection, stronger than the fear.
"Maybe I don't need someone likeThomas to validate me," Roxanne murmured, more to herself than toCharlotte. There was a newfound determination in her voice, a spark that hadbeen missing earlier in the evening. “Or like Henry.”
"Exactly," Charlotteaffirmed, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Roxanne’s ear."Your value isn't tied to someone else's approval. You're brilliant andbold, and you shine brighter than any star in this sky."
The sisters sat in silence, the naturalbeauty of Chesham Cove wrapping around them like a comforting shawl. Roxanne'sgaze lingered on the stars above, their twinkling lights akin to the dawningunderstanding within her.
"I’m sorry for how I behaved. Iwas out of line. I’ve been so alone, and with Henry back, I guess I fearedbeing rejected more than ever. Thomas made me feel good even if it was for justan hour…”
