Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 189

189 Glimmers

(Winona)

The therapy room is the same as always-soft lighting, comfortable chairs, Barnaby's calming presence in the middle. But today, there's a new tension in the air.

Mom sits beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, eyes flicking around the room like a trapped

animal.

Barnaby smiles warmly at her. "Lucy, thank you for joining us today. This is a safe space for Winona and now, for you. You're welcome to share as much or as little as you'd like."

Mom nods but doesn't say anything. She looks like she'd rather be anywhere else. I give her a reassuring smile, but I know this is hard for her. Hell, it's hard for me, and I've been doing this for a while now.

Barnaby starts gently, asking Mom about her life before Cass, before everything went to hell. At first, she's hesitant, giving short, clipped answers.

But Barnaby has a way of getting under your skin, making you open up even when you don't want to.

"I know it's hard to talk about, to relive. But hearing it from you helps Winona to be able to understand and move on from it," Barnaby encourages.

"I should never have made it through that time," she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper. "There were days I didn't think I would. I didn't want to. But something kept me going."

"Keep going, you're doing great," Barnaby says in his low voice, the one that leads you on to say more without you even realizing.

"I just always believed inside me that Winona was somehow protected as long as I was there. Even in that vegetated state. I was on the edge of losing it every second of every day, but Winona pulled me through." It's a relief to hear her open up. To know I'm not the only one who's felt like that. Who's had to fight some days just to want to keep breathing.

Barnaby nods, his expression thoughtful. "It's understandable to feel that way, Lucy. You've been through more than most people could ever imagine. But you survived, and that's something to be very, very proud of."

Mom looks at him, her eyes filled with years of pain. "Proud? Of what? That I let myself be used and abused in the worst possible way and somehow made it out the other side? That I didn't die when I probably should have?" "Proud that you're here, right now, in this room with your daughter," Barnaby says softly. "Proud that you found the strength to change and raise another daughter, even when it really was impossible."

Mom's eyes fill with tears, and she quickly looks away, blinking them back. I reach out and take her hand, squeezing it tight. She doesn't pull away.

Barnaby shifts the mood. Sitting upright and giving a big grin. "Let's talk about something called 'glimmers. They're the opposite of triggers. Small moments in your day that make you feel safe, happy, and content, "Okay, glimmers, got it," I say.

189 Glimmers

+25 BONUS

anything-a smell, a sound, a memory. Something that brings you back to the present and reminds you that

him like he's

one of my glimmers is the smell of fresh coffee in the morning.

isn't taken. Because if it is, I don't have to follow that car

Mom just stares. Did he just say that? I'm not sure if he's joking or if he's

break room that's labeled with someone's name

The absurdity

"YOLO?" Mom asks.

live once,"

that, a small, tentative smile, but it's there. "I guess I haven't really been looking for the good

moments that make you feel good, no matter how small they are. Write

button for my brain. It reminds me that there's still joy in my

be little things. The things that

me. That's when I feel safe. And now when Winona

you both have homework before

Mom's eyes. Maybe this is the

piece of toast can be a glimmer. Or, you know, when I don't resist the urge to prank-call my ex after a few too many glasses of wine..." Mom laughs-a genuine laugh-and it's the best glimmer I've had all

189 Glimmers

(Winona)

lighting, comfortable chairs, Barnaby's calming presence in the middle. But today, there's a new tension

hands clasped tightly in her lap,

animal.

for joining us today. This is a safe space for Winona and now, for you. You're welcome to share as much

know this is hard for her. Hell, it's hard for me, and I've been doing this for

under your skin, making you open up

hard to talk about, to relive. But hearing it from you helps Winona to be able to

time," she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper. "There were days I didn't think I would. I didn't want to. But something

the one that leads you on to say more without

inside me that Winona was somehow protected as long as I was there. Even in that vegetated state. I was on the edge of losing it every second of every day, but Winona pulled me through." It's a relief to hear her open up. To know I'm not

through more than most people could ever imagine. But you survived, and that's something to be very,

of."

and abused in the worst possible way and somehow made it out the other side? That I didn't die when I probably should have?" "Proud that you're here, right

eyes fill with tears, and she quickly looks away, blinking them back. I

of triggers. Small moments in your day that make you feel safe, happy, and content, "Okay,