Dahlia.
I sat on the bench, gazing at the green valley stretching out before me like a scene straight from a motivational poster. The breeze tickled my face, a soft whisper of nature’s therapy, and for a moment, I tried to imagine what it sounded like. Nothing came to mind—silence was my normal.
I closed my eyes, letting the breeze play over me, and when I opened them, Billie was standing there, staring at me like I owed her rent money.
“Sorry if I startled you,” she said, her expression suggesting she wasn’t sorry at all.
“It’s fine. I was just enjoying the outdoors,” I signed, shifting to make room for her on the bench. She plopped down beside me, her energy calm yet oddly intimidating.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
I paused. Should I tell her the truth? That my husba
