Keira smiled gently. "I understand why you''re both here. Mr. Sky, are you ready?"


    She was beautiful and elegant. As she spoke, her crescent-shaped eyes rested softly on Sky, and the kindness in her voice made it easy to rx. She had a calming presence that naturally lowered people''s defenses.


    Even so, Sky remained tense. Deep within, he felt a tightly wound knot that he was unwilling to let anyone pull at.


    Seeing his hesitation, Lincoln gently said, "Sky, if you''re not ready, we can always schedule another time with Ms. Chesson."


    Keira smiled again. "Indeed. Although I''m a therapist, I prefer to be called Ms. Chesson. I no longer practice professionally, but you can trust that anything you share will remain strictly confidential. I would never betray your privacy."


    Sky lifted his cup of tea, gently blew on its contents, and took a sip. "Please give me some time."


    This tea was different from what he usually drank. It had a natural sweetness that settled warmly in his chest and stomach. Thatforting sensation helped ease his nerves a little.


    Keira smiled again. "Take all the time you need, Mr. Sky. I''ve prepared some light pastries. Feel free to enjoy them while you sip your tea and rx. We don''t need to rush into anything."


    She stood up and quickly returned with a tray. On it were several small tes, each holding delicate pastries that smelled as wonderful as they looked.


    "These are homemade," Keira said. "Please give them a try. If you like them, I''ll pack some up for you to take hometer."


    Sky offered a polite smile. "Thank you, but there''s no need."


    After taking a few deep breaths, he finally gathered his courage. "I''m ready now. We can begin."


    Keira nodded. "Please follow me, Mr. Sky."


    She stood and turned to Lincoln. "Mr. Lincoln, I''ll need you to wait here for a while."


    Lincoln gave a slight nod. "Of course. Thank you, Ms. Chesson."


    Keira smiled warmly. "It''s no trouble at all. Natalie has already arranged for my fees to be paid."


    She led Sky into a separate room.


    The room was cozy and inviting, decorated in soft blue tones. The windows were open, and the sheer white curtains swayed gently in the breeze. Outside, a lush patch of blue hydrangeas bloomed vibrantly.


    Keira gestured for Sky to sit on the plush couch. Then, she walked over to a small table and lit a soothing scented candle. A gentle fragrance slowly filled the room, though much of it drifted out the open window with the breeze.


    Keira didn''t mind, of course. The scented candle wasn''t really about the aroma it emitted. It was just part of the process she was used to.


    She turned to Sky with a gentle smile. "Mr. Sky, here. Have some tea."


    She poured him a fresh cup. This time, the tea carried a hint of bitterness, but it left behind a soft sweetness after each sip.


    "You can think of this as a friendly chat," Keira said kindly. "Say whateveres to mind. If you''re unsure how to begin, I can guide the conversation. Would that be okay with you?"


    She smiled warmly. Natalie had already told her that Sky wasn''t like most patients. He didn''t need structured therapy or intense probing. What he needed was someone to talk to, someone to help him find his way back.


    Sky had a clear sense of judgment. He understood his own condition best. The question was whether he could pull himself out of it. Only if he couldn''t would he truly need a therapist''s help.


    Keira''s role was to guide him until he found his way out on his own.


    Sky stayed silent, and Keira didn''t rush him. Instead, she quietly stood and stepped out to clip a fresh bundle of hydrangeas. She returned and carefully arranged them in a vase before him.


    When she was done, she ced the


    flowers in front of him. "Mr. Sky, these are for you. Blue hydrangeas can mean romance and happiness, but also mncholy and


    detachment. Some even say they represent betrayal or fickleness. If, you had to choose one meaning, which do you think fits this flower best?"  s


    Sky was caught off guard. What did the meaning of flowers have to do with seeing a therapist?


    Noticing his confusion, Keira chuckled softly. "I think ''mncholy and detachment'' suits the current you, but I believe you see yourself as someone who represents betrayal and fickleness."


    Sky frowned slightly. "Why? Why would I see myself that way?"


    Keira replied, "Mr. Sky, I''ve looked into your situation. The information came from Natalie, and she asked me to help. If I''ve overstepped or made you ufortable in any way, I hope you''ll forgive me."


    She sat across from him, gently saying, "From the moment you walked in with Mr. Lincoln, your face was calm, but your eyes were tense. You''ve got dark circles and redness in your eyes. Though they''re barely noticeable, it''s enough for me to tell that you haven''t been sleeping well.


    "Even if you do fall asleep, it''s likely shallow and filled with restless dreams."


    Keira smiled softly and continued, "When you sat down, your body remained tense. Even when you picked up your tea, your hands were trembling. That shows me you''re nervous and afraid. You''re afraid to let someone into your mind and talk about the things that truly scare you.


    "But if this continues, Mr. Sky, it will take a toll on both your body and mind." Keira handed Sky a document. As he nced through it, his eyes widened in shock.


    Keira remained calm and gentle, silently observing Sky. Though her voice was soft, it carried an underlying strength. "Mr. Sky, have you decided? Are you ready to talk now?"


    Sky''s hands trembled slightly. After a long pause, he closed his eyes and nodded. "Alright, let''s talk," Sky said.<fn1ec3> This text is hosted at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn1ec3>


    "I''m scared," Sky confessed, his


    voice tinged with pain. "I often dream of Emma calling me, covered in blood, shouting for me to save her. I live the scenes from prison being beaten and the pain that follows. It''s like a shadow I can''t shake off. I know it was Zachary. He wanted revenge for Sophia."  s


    He paused again, taking a deep breath before continuing, "Even though I''m out now, I''m still on probation for two years. During that time, I have to be incredibly careful with every step I take.


    "One wrong move could destroy everything. I can''t forget that Emma took her life right after seeing me. I feel responsible. I raised and spoiled her, but when she died, I couldn''t save her."


    Keira gently said, "Mr. Sky, if I told you that you could take revenge on Zachary right now, would you do it? After all, you only owe Sophia, not Zachary Zachary''s actions are no different from how you allowed you allowed Emma to hurt other''s back then. If you want revenge on him you have the justification for it."  s


    She sighed and added, "But revenge only brings more pain. I''m not here to expose anything about this situation. Besides, Sophia and Zachary are the ones who helped you get released early. Zachary is also a therapist. He understands human nature, and everything he did was carefully nned."


    Keira stood up and closed the window, ensuring that the outside breeze wouldn''t disrupt the moment. "I can help you forget the painful memories from prison. Of course, you can also choose to release yourself from them with strength and willpower alone. But if you can''t, I will help you."


    Sky looked at her with confusion in his eyes. "Help me? I don''t think I can do it on my own. If I could, I wouldn''t be losing sleep every night, only to fall into nightmare after nightmare."


    "Then, let me help you," Keira said, gently pushing the blue hydrangeas closer to him. "Let''s change the meaning of hydrangeas into one of romance and happiness. Mr. Sky, what say you?"