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Alone.
In danger.
She sucked in another deep, hitching breath and forced herself to take a step forward. And then another. And another, her movements slow and hesitant, like a newborn deer discovering its legs for the first time. The grass was wet with dew and soaked through her shoes.But as she followed Alfie’s tiny paw prints into the woods, each step became a little easier.
She could do this.
The forest was alive with the sound of birds and insects. The sun was just barely over the horizon, casting long, golden rays through the trees.
It was... beautiful.
She slowed and stared up at the towering trees. Their branches formed a natural canopy, creating a sacred space where time seemed to stand still. She watched in wonder as shafts of sunlight played through the leaves, casting a kaleidoscope of greens that ranged from the deepest emerald to the most delicate mint. She’d never seen so much green in her life. It was in the ferns blanketing the forest floor, the moss coating the tree trunks.
It was quiet here, and for the first time in months, her mind quieted, too.
But, no. The longer she stood there, the more she realized the forest wasn’t actually quiet at all. The foliage rustled in a soothing, rhythmic symphony with all the other hushed sounds of wildlife, replacing the familiar hum of the sheltered world she had left behind.
And then she heard it.
A high-pitched bark that could only belong to Alfie. She followed the sound, pushing through the ferns until she saw him. He was perched on a rock, his little tail wagging like crazy.
Rebel sat beside him, looking pleased with herself.
“What are you two doing? You’re supposed to listen to me. Bad dogs!”
Alfie’s tail stopped wagging, and his ears drooped, but Rebel was unrepentant. She gave a huff and turned, trotting away again.
“No! Come back!” Veronica hurried forward and scooped Alfie into her arms, nuzzling his head as she clipped on his leash. “Oh, your big sister is in so much trouble.”
She followed Rebel’s trail and spotted the dog strolling leisurely along a path, occasionally stopping to sniff an interesting rock or pee next to a bush. Rebel wasn’t in a hurry. She wasn’t chasing anything. She was literally just out for a nice walk.
And, Veronica realized, so was she.
Holy shit.
She was out of the house, taking a walk with her dogs, and she wasn’t hyperventilating. Her heart wasn’t pounding out of her chest. Her palms weren’t sweating.
She was calm.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this way. It was as if the woods had a magical power over her, erasing all of her fears and worries with every step she took.
Rebel led her to a clearing. The sun was rising higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the open space. Flowers of every color dotted the ground, and a small stream bubbled nearby. A hidden paradise, untouched by the cruelty of the world.
Veronica sank to the ground with Alfie still snuggled in her arms. Rebel trotted over and lay down beside them, her big wedge head resting on Veronica’s bare thigh.
She closed her eyes and breathed in the scents of the forest, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin, savoring the moment. She was sitting in the middle of a field, surrounded by nature, and she felt alive. It was as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and for the first time in years, she felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, she could overcome her fears and start living again.
A long time later, as morning stretched into afternoon, Rebel stirred and rose to her feet, shaking the dew off her coat. Veronica realized she had lost track of time. It was getting late, and she still had to make it back to the house.
Reluctantly, she turned back, retracing her steps through the woods. But this time, it wasn’t as hard. Her pace was quickening, her movements surer, as if she was rediscovering an old skill. As she emerged from the woods and into the clearing, she spotted Connelly’s car parked outside her house.
No. She wasn’t ready to face anyone yet. She wasn’t ready to let anyone in.
But then, she saw Connelly’s face, and something inside her shifted. He was smiling at her, that boyish grin of his that had never failed to make her feel better when they were kids.
“You’re outside,” he said, his voice tinged with awe. Then his gaze skimmed down her body. “In... your pajamas.”
