he could leave.
She could stay.
She could open the door, walk a few steps, and return whenever she wanted.
For years, she had imagined that visiting the location would mean surrendering control to the memory. She had feared that once she arrived, the past would become so overwhelming that she would be unable to do anything except endure it.
But the present offered choices that the past had not.
She was not required to recreate the experience. She was not required to follow a particular route or remain for a predetermined amount of time. She did not have to stand at the exact spot associated with the accident.
She could approach the place in her own way.
That thought gave her a little more room to breathe.
Elira leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes briefly. She noticed the tension in her shoulders and deliberately allowed them to relax.
