Through the Glass

Chapter 5

The gravel crunched beneath Eliza's feet as she stepped out of her car, taking in the stillness of her surroundings. Willow Brook Retreat was nestled deep in the forest, far removed from the rush of city life. Tall trees framed the horizon, their branches swaying gently in the breeze, as if they were the guardians of this secluded space. The lodge itself stood at the heart of the retreat, its wide windows catching the fading afternoon light and reflecting the soft green of the surrounding woods.

Eliza's heart beat a little too fast as she made her way up the stone path toward the entrance. The brochure had promised peace and healing, but all she could feel right now was a tight knot of tension in her chest. She reminded herself that this was supposed to be a break—a chance to reset. But the idea of confronting her own exhaustion and anxieties, things she had neatly buried beneath her work, made her stomach churn.

The lodge doors opened with a gentle creak as Eliza stepped inside, greeted by the warmth of the space. It was rustic but elegant, with wooden beams stretching overhead and soft, inviting furniture arranged around a large stone fireplace. A faint scent of lavender hung in the air, calming yet distant, like the echo of a memory.

"Welcome to Willow Brook," a soft voice greeted her. A woman with silver-streaked hair stood behind the reception desk, her eyes warm with welcome. "I'm Tori, one of the coordinators. You must be Dr. Williams."

"Eliza," she corrected with a small, tight smile. The title felt too formal here, out of place in the sanctuary of nature and quietude. "Just Eliza."

Tori nodded, her smile deepening. "Eliza, then. You're just in time for orientation. We'll be going over the retreat guidelines and what to expect for the weekend. It's a small group, so you'll have plenty of time to settle in."

Tori's calm presence made Eliza relax, if only slightly, and she followed her down the long hallway toward the main hall. Along the way, she noticed the little details—framed black-and-white photographs of quiet lakes and misty mornings, the soft hum of wind chimes somewhere in the distance, the rhythmic ticking of an unseen clock. Everything here seemed designed to slow down time.

Inside the hall, a group of around a dozen people were gathered in a semi-circle, their chairs spaced comfortably apart. Some were flipping through brochures or fidgeting with their phones, while others stared ahead, lost in thought. Eliza slipped into a chair near the back, grateful for the anonymity that being new allowed her. She let out a quiet breath, adjusting the sleeves of her light sweater, trying to shake off the weight that had followed her here.

Tori took her place at the center of the group, her voice quiet but clear. "Thank you all for coming. The fact that you've chosen to take time for yourself is a powerful first step. This weekend is about slowing down, letting go, and rediscovering what it means to take care of yourself. We'll guide you through the process, but ultimately, this is your journey."

The room remained silent, the atmosphere thick with a kind of collective uncertainty. Eliza glanced around at the others—there was a man seated a few chairs away who kept looking down at his hands, a couple who exchanged quiet whispers, and a woman toward the front who looked like she hadn't slept in days.

Tori continued, "We'll start with introductions, then move into a short group activity. This evening, you'll each spend some time in quiet reflection and write a letter. It can be to yourself, to someone from your past, or to the future. The purpose is to explore whatever thoughts and feelings you've been holding onto."

Eliza shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The thought of writing a letter to herself, or to anyone, felt daunting. What was she supposed to say? She'd spent so long managing the emotions of others that she wasn't sure how to sift through her own.