Chapter 21
The second day of the retreat dawned with soft golden light spilling through the trees, painting the campground in hues of warmth. Birds chirped in the distance, and the faint murmur of conversations drifted from the dining area where breakfast was being served. Sydney, however, was far from at ease. She had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, Alan's voice echoed in her mind, along with the gentle weight of his hand on her arm. It was like a fire she couldn't put out, burning through her resolve, leaving her shaken. And then there was her mother, whose laughter and efforts to connect felt like a cruel trick her heart wanted to believe. Sydney sat at the edge of the lake near the campsite, her knees drawn to her chest. The reflection on the water was still, mirroring the cloudle
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