Chapter 140 - Rooting Out Evil

Lawrence 

"Let it out, beloved. I am here." 

My soft murmur barely pierced Stella's anguished keening. She trembled like a fledgling torn from the nest too soon, all rawly exposed nerve endings flayed by confrontation's bitter revelations.

I gathered her closed, wishing fervently to weep the cleansing tears she yet resisted. But one of us must stay steady navigating this emotional tempest without rudder or compass. 

Stella had borne brave witness to her mother's aloof cruelty, emerging from that trial stronger and wiser for the sorrow. But old wounds dealt by protector's hands cut deepest scarring vulnerable psyche.

So I weathered the raging storm of her pain, neutralizing lightning strikes through unmoving Earth's patience. And slowly, slowly fierce racks subsided allowing space for peace's first tender shoots to root fres