Chapter 10 - The Horizon of Healing
Two weeks later, the autumn air turned crisp and golden, carrying the scent of pine and woodsmoke across the grounds of the military medical center.
Elise was finally discharged from the pediatric trauma unit. Though her arms were still encased in lightweight, removable fiberglass casts and she walked with a slow, careful gait, the pale, haunted look in her eyes had been replaced by the bright, curious spark of an eight-year-old girl who knew she was completely safe.
We walked slowly out the front entrance of the hospital, hand in hand, toward a matte-black military transport vehicle idling at the curb.
Marcus stood by the open door, holding a small bouquet of wildflowers that Maya had picked from the garden out back.
“Permission to escort the Captain and her daughter, ma’am?” Marcus grinned, snapping a crisp, respectful salute.
“Permission granted, Sergeant,” I smiled, returning the salute before helping Elise carefully into the back seat.
As the vehicle pulled away from the curb and headed down the open highway toward a brand-new home far away from the shadows of Shoreline Drive, Elise leaned her head against my shoulder, looking out the window at the bright, unobstructed sky.
“Mom?” she whispered softly.
“Yes, bug?”
“Are we ever going back there?”
May you like
I put my arm around her, pulling her close, feeling the steady, healthy rhythm of her heartbeat against mine.
“Never, sweetheart,” I said, watching the horizon stretch out endlessly before us. “We’re building our own foundation now. And nobody is ever going to break it.”
