Where the Wounds Bloom

Chapter Two: Grounded.

The sound of gentle rain pattered against the window of the little coffee shop where Skye had agreed to meet her sister Kari. It had become their safe space-a quiet place where conversations could be honest without judgment, where the rich scent of roasted beans and the warmth of hot drinks offered a small measure of comfort. Kari sat at their usual corner table, stirring her latte, waiting for Skye to arrive.

When Skye finally walked in, she looked tired. The dark circles under her eyes were evidence of sleepless nights spent wrestling with memories of Jeremiah and Marcus-two relationships that had left deep scars. Skye spotted Kari and forced a smile, the kind that didn't reach her eyes, but Kari could read right through it. Kari was always good at that.

"Hey, sis," Skye said, slipping into the seat across from her.

"Hey yourself," Kari replied softly, offering Skye a small smile that held both empathy and strength. "How are you doing today?"

Skye sighed, staring into the black coffee Kari had already ordered for her. "Surviving, I guess. But it feels like I'm always teetering on the edge. One wrong thought, and it's like... I'm right back in it, you know? Back in the mess with Jeremiah's words in my head, or Marcus's promises that turned into something else entirely. I just want it all to go away."

Kari reached across the table, placing a warm hand over Skye's. "I know, Skye. It's a lot, and it's not fair that you have to carry it. But you're not alone in this."

Skye managed a small nod, her throat tight with emotion. The truth was, she had never known how to talk about the nightmares that haunted her, the way her body would tense up at even the smallest reminder of either man. How could she explain the panic that made her feel like she was drowning when she was just sitting quietly in her own home?

"I don't even know where to start, Kari. Every time I try to think of moving on, of being okay... I just feel this pressure in my chest. Like... like it's stuck there."

Kari squeezed her hand gently, considering her next words. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about today. I've been reading up on something that might help. It's called Somatic Experiencing."

Skye frowned slightly, curiosity sparking through the fog of her exhaustion. "Somatic what?"

"Somatic Experiencing," Kari repeated. "It's a way of helping your body release all the trauma it's holding onto. Sometimes... sometimes, the body remembers things long after the mind tries to forget them. It's not just about talking through things. It's about letting your body express what it needs to, to find some relief."

Skye took a slow sip of her coffee, considering Kari's words. "And you think that could work for me?"

"I think it's worth a shot," Kari replied, her voice gentle but filled with conviction. "I've been learning more about it, and it's all about recognizing where you hold stress and tension. Letting your body process it without forcing yourself to relive everything mentally. It might help you let go of some of that pressure."

Skye's gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "I don't know, Kari. I've tried so many things-counseling, meditation, and journaling. It always feels like a temporary fix."

"I get that," Kari nodded, not pushing too hard but keeping a steady, calming presence. "But this isn't about finding the right words or forcing yourself to be okay. It's about letting your body speak, too. If nothing else, maybe it could give you a bit of peace."

Skye swallowed hard, feeling a familiar tightness in her chest, the kind that usually warned of an impending panic attack. But Kari's voice, steady and certain, was like a lifeline. "Okay... so, how does it work?"

Kari's smile widened slightly, seeing a glimmer of hope in Skye's eyes. "It's about starting small. Not diving into the deep end. Like... try noticing how your body feels right now. Where is the tension? Is it in your shoulders? Your back? And when you find it, don't force yourself to relax it-just... observe it. Let it be."

Skye closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. She could feel the tightness in her chest, the clenching in her shoulders. She had lived with that tension for so long it felt like a part of her, but she had never stopped to just notice it without trying to banish it away.

"It's all over," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "My whole body feels... heavy."

Kari nodded, her expression encouraging. "Okay. And what if you just... let yourself feel that heaviness without judging it? You don't have to fix it. Just acknowledge it, like you're giving it permission to exist."

A small shudder ran through Skye, but she tried to do as Kari suggested. For the first time in ages, she didn't try to push the tension away. She let it sit there, heavy and unyielding, but somehow a little less frightening. There was a strange sense of relief in letting herself just feel it.

Kari continued softly, "Now, see if you can find a place in your body that feels okay. Even if it's just a little spot. A place that isn't weighed down."

Skye searched inwardly, taking slow, deliberate breaths. She found a small pocket of warmth in her hands, a tiny area that didn't feel as tense. "I think... my hands feel okay. Not as tight."

Kari's smile was gentle and encouraging. "That's good. Focus on that warmth for a moment. Sometimes, feeling that one small spot of ease can help the rest of the tension find its way out. It's like giving your body permission to relax, little by little."

Skye opened her eyes, meeting Kari's gaze. For the first time in what felt like months, she could sense a faint crack in the wall of anxiety that had surrounded her. It wasn't gone, but it wasn't as overwhelming. She squeezed Kari's hand back, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw a flicker of hope in her sister's eyes that mirrored her own.

"Thank you, Kari," Skye said, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know if this will be the answer, but... it feels like a place to start. And I haven't felt that in a long time."

Kari's smile widened, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "That's all it is, Skye. A start. We'll take it one step at a time, okay? I'll be here with you for every single one."

For the first time in a long while, Skye allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could find a way through the darkness. It wouldn't be easy, and it wouldn't be quick. But with Kari by her side and a new path to explore, the road to healing didn't feel quite as impossible as it had before.