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

smell, a sound, a memory. Something that brings you

like

the smell of fresh

parking spot I want isn't taken. Because if it is, I don't

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

my favorite snack in the break room that's labeled with someone's name and I

can't help it-I laugh. The absurdity

"YOLO?" Mom asks.

only live once," I

smile, but it's there.

make you feel good, no matter how small they are. Write them down. With practice, they'll outweigh

brain. It reminds me that there's still joy in my world, even when everything

The things that make you feel like it's all going to be okay, even if just for

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

both have homework before

hope in Mom's eyes. Maybe this is the

buttered 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..."

189 Glimmers

(Winona)

chairs, Barnaby's calming presence in the

beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, eyes flicking around the

animal.

"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

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

of getting under your skin, making you open up even

from you helps

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

his low voice, the one

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

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

of."

way and somehow made it out the other side? That I didn't die

looks away, blinking them back. I reach out and take her hand, squeezing it tight. She doesn't

a big grin. "Let's talk about something called 'glimmers. They're the opposite of triggers. Small moments in your day that make you