FAYE
I closed the bathroom door behind me and flicked on the light.
Nothing felt urgent. That, in itself, was noticeable.
I turned on the tap and adjusted the temperature until steam started to rise, then left the water running as I undressed. By the time the tub was ready, my mind had already slowed down, slipping out of the constant alertness I carried most of the day.
I stepped in carefully and lowered myself into the water, letting out a quiet breath as the heat settled around me.
This was good.
I leaned back, resting my head against the edge of the tub, my eyes drifting shut.
For the first time in a while, I didn’t feel like my life was falling apart. Nothing was actively hurting. There was no immediate problem demanding attention.
For a long time, I’d felt like I was always p
