what if Lucy gets kidnapped again?

A path toward healing

The decision to seek therapy was a turning point for Lucy. It wasn't an easy choice, but it felt necessary, like the first real step toward regaining control over her life. Tim was true to his word, helping her research therapists and setting up an appointment with someone who specialized in trauma recovery. The process was overwhelming—she had to confront the reality of her situation in a way she hadn't fully done before—but she was determined to see it through.

A few days later, Lucy found herself sitting in the waiting room of a small, cozy office. The walls were painted a soothing shade of blue, and the soft hum of a white noise machine filled the space. She was nervous, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she waited to be called in. Despite the calming atmosphere, her heart raced, and she could feel the anxiety building.

Tim had offered to come with her, to sit in the waiting room while she had her session, but Lucy had declined. This was something she needed to do on her own. She had to learn to stand on her own two feet again, even if it was just for an hour.

"Lucy?" A gentle voice called her name, pulling her from her thoughts. She looked up to see a woman in her early forties standing in the doorway. She had warm brown eyes and a kind smile that immediately put Lucy at ease. "I'm Dr. Morgan. Why don't you come on in?"

Lucy stood, her legs feeling shaky as she followed Dr. Morgan into the office. The room was small but inviting, with comfortable chairs and shelves lined with books and plants. A large window let in natural light, making the space feel open and airy. Dr. Morgan gestured for Lucy to sit in one of the chairs, and she took a seat, her hands still trembling slightly.

As Dr. Morgan settled into the chair across from her, she gave Lucy a reassuring smile. "I'm really glad you're here, Lucy. I know how difficult it can be to take that first step, but it's an important one. This is your space, your time, and we'll go at whatever pace you're comfortable with. There's no rush."

Lucy nodded, though her throat felt tight. She didn't know where to start or what to say. The idea of laying bare her trauma to a stranger was terrifying, but there was something about Dr. Morgan's presence that made her feel safe, like maybe she could do this.

"I'm not sure where to begin," Lucy admitted after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That's okay," Dr. Morgan replied gently. "There's no right or wrong way to do this. We can start wherever you feel comfortable, even if it's just talking about how you're feeling right now."

Lucy hesitated, her mind racing as she tried to find the words. She had spent so long pushing down her emotions, trying to keep everything bottled up, that it was hard to know where to begin. But she had made the decision to be here, to try and heal, and that meant being honest, even when it was painful.

"I... I feel lost," she finally said, her voice trembling. "Everything feels different now, and I don't know how to deal with it. I don't know how to be myself again."

Dr. Morgan nodded, her expression empathetic. "It's completely understandable to feel that way after what you've been through. Trauma can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us. It can make us feel disconnected, like we've lost a part of who we are. But that doesn't mean you're broken, Lucy. It just means you're going through a process, and healing takes time."

Lucy felt a lump form in her throat as she listened to Dr. Morgan's words. They were simple, but they carried a weight that resonated deep within her. She had been so focused on what she had lost, on the ways she felt different, that she hadn't considered that this was all part of the healing process.

"But what if I never get back to who I was?" Lucy asked, her voice small and vulnerable. "What if I'm always like this, always scared and... broken?"

Dr. Morgan leaned forward slightly, her gaze steady and reassuring. "Healing doesn't mean going back to who you were before, Lucy. It means learning to integrate what happened into your life in a way that allows you to move forward. You may not feel like the same person you were before, and that's okay. You're still you, even if you've changed. And you're not broken—you're just carrying a lot of pain right now. But with time and support, that pain can become more manageable."

Lucy absorbed Dr. Morgan's words, turning them over in her mind. The idea that she didn't have to go back to who she was before, that she could still be herself even if she had changed, was something she hadn't fully considered. It was a small comfort, but it was something to hold on to.

For the rest of the session, they talked about Lucy's feelings of fear and shame, about the nightmares that plagued her sleep and the anxiety that made it hard for her to leave her apartment. Dr. Morgan listened without judgment, offering validation and understanding that made Lucy feel heard in a way she hadn't before.

By the time the session ended, Lucy felt a little lighter, as if a small part of the burden she had been carrying had been lifted. It wasn't much, and she knew she still had a long way to go, but it was a start.

As she left the office, Lucy found Tim waiting for her outside, just as he had promised. He was leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets, but when he saw her, he straightened up, his expression a mix of concern and hope.

"How did it go?" he asked gently, searching her face for any sign of how she was feeling.

Lucy took a deep breath, trying to find the words. "It was... hard," she admitted. "But it was also good. I think it's going to help."

Tim smiled, a look of relief crossing his features. "I'm really glad to hear that, Lucy. I know this isn't easy, but I'm proud of you for doing this."

Lucy felt a warmth spread through her at his words. She had been so focused on her own struggles that she hadn't really considered how much Tim had been worrying about her, how much he had been doing to support her. He had been her rock through all of this, and she was grateful in a way she couldn't fully express.

"Thank you, Tim," she said softly. "For everything. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You don't have to thank me," Tim replied, his voice equally soft. "I'm just glad I can be here for you. And I will be, for as long as you need."

They stood there for a moment, the weight of everything that had happened between them, but there was also something else—a sense of solidarity, of shared strength. They had both been through so much, and though the road ahead was still uncertain, they would face it together.

In the days that followed, Lucy continued to see Dr. Morgan, each session peeling back another layer of her trauma and helping her make sense of her emotions. It was a slow process, often frustrating and painful, but it was also necessary. With Dr. Morgan's guidance, Lucy began to understand that healing wasn't a linear path. There would be setbacks, moments when she felt like she was slipping backward, but that didn't mean she wasn't making progress.

Tim remained a constant presence in her life, checking in on her, offering support, and sometimes just sitting with her in comfortable silence. He never pushed her to talk about her sessions, respecting her privacy, but he was always there if she wanted to share. Their bond grew stronger with each passing day, a testament to the trust and care that had developed between them.

One evening, after a particularly difficult therapy session, Lucy and Tim sat together on her couch, a soft silence settling between them. The weight of the day hung heavy in the air, but there was also a sense of peace, a calm that came from simply being together.

"Do you ever think about what's next?" Lucy asked suddenly, her voice breaking the quiet. She had been thinking a lot about the future lately, about what her life would look like once she was ready to move forward. It was a daunting thought, but also one that carried a hint of hope.

Tim considered her question for a moment before answering. "I do," he said thoughtfully. "But I try not to let it overwhelm me. Right now, I'm just focused on taking things one day at a time. I think that's all we can really do."

Lucy nodded, finding comfort in his words. "I guess that's true. It's just hard not to think about it sometimes, you know? I want to get back to work, to feel normal again, but I'm also scared. Scared that I won't be able to do it, or that things will never feel the same."

Tim's expression softened with understanding. "It's okay to be scared, Lucy. You've been through something really traumatic, and it's going to take time to feel like yourself again. But you're strong, stronger than you realize. And when you're ready, you'll get there."

Lucy looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you in my life," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "You've been so good to me, Tim. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you."

"You don't have to repay me," Tim replied, his voice equally