No Fear

Posted bywriterravenclawPosted inWeekly Word PromptsTags:

Written for https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/reenas-xploration-challenge-406/

With an unappetizing lump of dry beef in a stale bun, Sarah gulped down a glass of lemonade.

‘So what do we have to do?’ Sarah asked.

‘Our therapist takes us to our happy place. Something to do when we are feeling anxious. Basically, we close our eyes, and lie on our backs, on the floor.’ Shelly stabbed a limp lettuce with her fork and nibbled at its edges. It’s okay and passes the time in this place.’

The time came to peel away the mask of wellness, painted joy and fragile smile. Fear held her hostage. In her appointments, she rarely spoke. Today was different. No questions to answer, just a group therapy session with her friend. The only person she could talk to about her breakdown, and not feel mad.

Sarah took a gym mat and dropped her mat on the ceramic tiles.

‘Right, I would like you to close your eyes, and imagine waves lapping on the shore. Breathe in for ten, and out for five. You can hear the waves rolling in with each breath. The whoosh of the water taking you back into the ocean.’

Was she doing it correctly? Sarah wasn’t sure, but at least when her eyes were closed, the visions stopped. Images of blue and white rushed onto Margate beach. The fine sand, safe to walk on during the day. At night, the ocean would spread across forgotten sandcastles and holes dug by children.

‘Think of a happy memory.’

Sarah allowed her lungs to expand and thought about holidays, where her mum would go to Bingo, and she sat on deckchairs. Her dad was reading the newspaper or completing a crossword.

She smiled, here she was safe.

Published by writerravenclaw

I am a fifty something mother of two grown up children, and one beautiful grandchild. I have been married for nearly thirty-four years. My first book was published ten years ago. I wrote my book Sticks and Stones because of my experience of being bullied at school.

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