CHAPTER 26
I began to develop a routine in the new house,
finding joy in the small tasks of maintenance and decoration.
I planted a small garden in the backyard,
tilling the soil,
planting tomato seeds,
basil,
and a few bushes of white roses.
Working with the dirt was therapeutic,
feeling the cool earth between my fingers,
understanding the patience required for things to grow.
My daughter helped me water them every evening,
holding the heavy watering can with both hands,
carefully pouring the water around the roots.
We watched the green shoots appear,
stretching up toward the sun,
thriving under our shared care.
One day,
while shopping at a hardware store,
I saw a woman who looked vaguely like Linda from behind.
The same sharp haircut,
the same stiff posture,
the same expensive coat.
My body reacted before my mind did,
my pulse quickening,
a cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck.
I stood still for a moment,
watching her turn around,
revealing a completely unfamiliar face.
It wasn't Linda,
of course,
she lived hundreds of miles away,
bound by legal restrictions and her own choices.
I took a deep breath,
forcing my shoulders to drop,
smiling at my own lingering reflexes.
The old fear was like an old injury,
sometimes aching when the weather changed,
but no longer capable of breaking the bone.
I finished my shopping,
paid for my items,
and drove home with a calm mind,
refusing to let the phantom memory ruin my day.
When I arrived home,
the sight of my small garden,
the sound of my daughter's laughter from the backyard,
instantly washed away the residual tension.
The phantoms had no power in this house,
they were locked outside,
unable to cross the boundary of my peace.
I was safe,
May you like
the reality was solid,
and the past was just a shadow that dissolved in the bright afternoon sun.
