~ Author ~

Adeline leans against the rough bark of an ancient oak in a small town near the woods. The branches, stripped bare by winter, create a skeletal canopy overhead.

The ice cream cone in her hand, vanilla swirled with caramel, is a spontaneous purchase from the cheerful truck parked at the forest's edge. It melts slightly in the crisp air, but she licks it slowly, savoring the sweetness.

Her eyes, once clouded by nightmares and unspoken fears, now hold a quiet clarity, like ...