Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN WHO SAVED HERSELF
Laurel took time away from the hospital.
She visited Claire in Portland.
They walked along the river.
Talked about their father.
Remembered childhood summers.
And slowly began to rebuild the parts of their family history that had been damaged by unanswered questions.
Laurel also met with her diabetes care team.
She reviewed her management plan.
Updated her emergency supplies.
Arranged more reliable backup glucose and monitoring equipment.
And admitted something she had avoided for years.
She had been treating her own needs as less important than everyone else's.
Claire listened.
Then said:
“You know Dad would have hated that.”
Laurel laughed through tears.
“He would have lectured me for an hour.”
“Two.”
They smiled.
For the first time in months, Laurel felt peace.
Not because everything had been resolved.
But because she was finally taking care of herself.
When she returned to Grey Haven, she resumed work on a reduced schedule.
She also began volunteering with a program that helped healthcare workers manage burnout and chronic illness.
She did not contact Weston.
May you like
Not yet.
She needed to know who she was without him.
