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

memory. Something that brings you back to the present and reminds you that

at him like he's speaking another language.

fresh coffee in the morning. Reminds

in his eye. "Finding the parking spot I want isn't taken. Because if it is, I don't have to follow that car home and throw something through their window later. Frees up

guard, while Mom just stares. Did he just say that? I'm not sure

in the break room that's labeled with someone's name and I eat it anyway." He

absurdity of it, the

"YOLO?" Mom asks.

live once,"

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

feel good, no matter how small they are. Write them down. With

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

says gently. "And remember, it can be little things. The things that make you feel like

feel safe. And now when Winona hugs

you both have homework

Maybe this is

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

189 Glimmers

(Winona)

Barnaby's calming presence in the middle. But today, there's a new

her lap, eyes

animal.

is a safe space for Winona and now, for you. You're

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

has a way of getting under your skin, making you open

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

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

great," Barnaby says in his low voice, the one that leads you on to say more without you

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

way, Lucy. You've been through more than

of."

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

blinking them back. I reach out and take

They're the opposite of triggers. Small moments in your day that make you feel safe, happy, and content,