Thawing the CEO's Heart

Chapter 38: Bridges to Tomorrow

Meena woke up to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the bedroom window. She turned to see Aoom still asleep beside her, the rise and fall of her breathing offering a comforting rhythm. It had been a month since her collapse at Aoom Corp, and the road to recovery from PTSD had been challenging, yet filled with small victories.

As Meena got ready for the day, she reflected on her journey. The therapy sessions had been intense but necessary. Dr. Preecha, her therapist, had helped her face her trauma and develop coping mechanisms.

That morning, as they shared breakfast, Aoom looked at Meena with concern. "Are you ready for today? I know it's a big step."

Meena took a deep breath, her hand trembling slightly as she lifted her coffee cup. "I think so. I need to face this, Aoom. I can't let the past control my future."

Aoom reached across the table, squeezing Meena's hand. "We'll be right there with you. Every step of the way."

Later, at Aoom Corp, Meena entered the office with a sense of determination. She had a meeting scheduled with Dr. Preecha and Aoom to discuss her progress and plan the next steps.

In the meeting room, Dr. Preecha smiled warmly as Meena and Aoom took their seats. "Meena, it's good to see you. How have you been feeling?"

Meena hesitated before speaking, gathering her thoughts. "It's been hard. The flashbacks and panic attacks... they're still there, but I'm learning to manage them. Aoom and Ice have been incredible support."

Aoom nodded. "She's making great progress. We're so proud of her."

Dr. Preecha looked at Meena with encouraging eyes. "That's wonderful to hear. Remember, Meena, healing is a process. It's okay to have setbacks. The important thing is that you're taking steps forward."

Meena smiled weakly. "I've been practicing the grounding techniques you taught me. They help a lot during the panic attacks."

Dr. Preecha leaned forward. "That's excellent. And how about your sleep? Have the nightmares lessened?"

Meena nodded. "They're not as frequent. And when they do happen, Aoom is there to help me through them."

Aoom squeezed Meena's hand again. "We make a pretty good team."

After the meeting, Meena felt a renewed sense of hope. She was far from completely healed, but she was making progress. And that was what mattered.

Back at her desk, Meena immersed herself in work, finding solace in the routine tasks. Ice popped in occasionally to check on her, offering light-hearted banter and support.

During lunch, Ice joined Meena at her desk, munching on a sandwich. "You know, Meena, it's really amazing how you're handling all of this. I don't think I could be as strong as you."

Meena chuckled softly. "It's not about being strong, Ice. It's about taking it one day at a time and leaning on the people who care about you."

Ice grinned. "Well, you definitely have us to lean on. And speaking of which, Aoom has a surprise for you after work."

Meena raised an eyebrow. "A surprise? Should I be worried?"

Ice laughed. "Nope, just something to look forward to."

As the day ended, Meena felt a mixture of exhaustion and accomplishment. She had faced her fears and managed to get through the day without a panic attack. It was a small victory, but a significant one.

Aoom was waiting for her at the door, a mischievous smile on her face. "Ready for your surprise?"

Meena smiled. "Lead the way."