A Tired Heart, A Warm Embrace

Yvonne lay curled on her bed, wrapped tightly in her thoughts, her head racing through possibilities. She couldn’t escape the whirlpool of emotions and betrayals that left her drained. The weight of Micheal's deceit, though now understood in parts, clung to her like a heavy fog. Her chest tightened with fear and sadness, but in the midst of it all, she remembered her breathing training with Lily.

The last thing she wanted was to cause Lily another panic attack. The image of her precious children crying for her flashed in her mind, stirring her resolve. Yvonne had promised herself that she wouldn’t be the source of their worry again. She took in deep, steady breaths, slowly releasing them, the way she had taught Lily. It didn't erase the pain, but it grounded her, just enough to keep her from spiraling further.

Tears streamed down her cheeks despite her efforts, but Yvonne kept her breathing even. She was hurt, so deeply hurt by Micheal’s lies. Yet, there was a part of her that underst