It was whether people were given room to respond to their experiences in ways that respected their own needs.
Elira did not believe that every person affected by a painful event should return to the place associated with it. She understood that her decision had been personal, shaped by her circumstances and the point she had reached in her own life.
The tree had not provided a universal solution.
It had provided a perspective that was meaningful to her.
That distinction mattered.
She could share what the experience had taught her without suggesting that everyone else needed to follow the same steps.
For her, returning had created an opportunity to see the location in a new way. For someone else, healing might involve speaking with a trusted friend, receiving professional support, establishing a new routine, or simply allowing time to pass without demanding immediate answers.
There was no requirement that recovery look the same for everyone.
