Chapter 8 - Healing the Scars
Word count: ~1,500 words
Recovery wasn't a straight line. There were nights during the first few months when Sophia would wake up crying, terrified of shadows or sudden noises.
During those nights, I didn't leave her side. I would sit on the edge of her new bed—a simple, sturdy wooden frame with no sensors, no cameras, and no hidden electronics—holding her small hand until her breathing slowed down and she drifted back into peaceful slumber.
Dr. Helen Vance, a specialized pediatric trauma psychologist (unrelated to Elisa’s family), worked wonders with her weekly sessions. She taught Sophia how to reclaim her voice through art therapy, storytelling, and physical play.
May you like
By early summer, Sophia had enrolled in local public swimming lessons. Watching her splash around in the shallow end of the community pool, laughing alongside other children without a care in the world, brought a lump to my throat every single time.
She wasn't a test subject anymore. She was just a little girl experiencing the magic of childhood for the very first time.
