Chapter 6 - Healing and Whispered Hopes
The physical danger was gone, but the emotional scars remained. In the weeks following David’s arrest, Lila suffered from night terrors. She refused to sleep with the door closed and panicked whenever the lights were turned off.
Harper knew that winning the legal battle was only half the victory; now, she had to win the battle for her daughter's peace of mind. She enrolled Lila in specialized trauma therapy with Dr. Ramos, who used play therapy to help Lila process her fear.
Every night, Harper established a new ritual. They would sit together in the middle of the living room, and Harper would hand Lila a small flashlight.
May you like
"This is your light, Lila," Harper would tell her. "No matter how dark a room is, you hold the power to bring the light back. And Mommy is always standing right by the switch."
Slowly, the fear began to recede. Lila stopped clutching her stuffed bunny quite so tightly. She started laughing again, her bright, musical giggle returning to the apartment that had once felt too quiet. Harper watched her daughter heal, realizing that true bravery didn't mean not being afraid—it meant trusting the people who loved you to help you through the dark.
