Chapter 26

Maxine's POV

She seemed nice enough, but I could see the fear in her eyes—the same fear I had felt when I first arrived. I tried to offer her some comfort, letting her know that I could help if she let me.

One afternoon, as we were both in the kitchen, she turned to me, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "Maxine, how do you do it? How do you survive here?"

I took a deep breath, thinking carefully before answering. "You have to find something to hold on to, something that keeps you going. For me, it was the hope that things would get better. And the people who cared about me, like Elena."

Clara nodded slowly. "I just feel so lost."

"I know," I said softly. "But I'm here. And you can always come to me if you need help."

As Clara adjusted to her new life, I continued to focus on my recovery. I ate well, rested, and took walks in the garden. The sunlight and fresh air did wonders for my spirit, helping to chase away the remaining cloud