But she no longer felt that she needed them before she could continue.
She looked toward the road and noticed that her breathing had become calmer.
The tension in her shoulders had eased. Her hands were no longer trembling as noticeably, and she found herself standing with less effort than before.
She was still aware of the place’s emotional significance.
But she was also aware of the present.
She could hear the breeze, see the movement of the leaves, and feel the ground beneath her feet. The surroundings were no longer simply a backdrop for memories. They were part of the experience she was having at that moment.
She had returned to a location associated with a painful event and discovered that she could also experience it as a place that existed in the present.
That did not make the visit easy.
It made it possible.
After a while, Elira stepped away from the fence and walked slowly toward her car.
