Page 81 of June 7

Today, she wanted to look forward. She wanted to put her past in the past.

She longed to feel the freedom and beauty others seemed to find so effortlessly along the shoreline. She wanted to shed the persistent shadow holding her back from experiencing the joy that the beach promised.

"I want to be able to walk on the beach like everyone else," Daisy whispered, her voice tinged with longing and apprehension. "But I'm scared."

"What scares you about the ocean?" asked Bane.

"The waves... they feel like they're going to swallow me whole." She stared at the waves rolling in.

The night her father drove the car into the ocean, the whole vehicle had disappeared as if it had never been there.

Bane squeezed her hand gently. "Breathe, babe. You're safe with me, and I won't let anything happen to you."

He anchored her. She closed her eyes and focused on the rhythm of her breathing, letting the familiar sensation ground her while the overwhelming sounds of the crashing waves reminded her of their size and strength.

Slowly, she felt her racing heartbeat begin to steady, and a fresh sense of courage started to bloom within her.

She leaned against Bane. "Take me closer."

Bane guided her toward the water's edge. She looked behind them. Their footsteps left imprints in the soft, wet sand.

With each step, the fear gradually subsided and was replaced by a growing determination to confront her anxieties head-on.

"Babe." He stopped. "Look up."

She raised her gaze. A few yards ahead of them, the water rolled onto the shore.

Less than two minutes later, the sand washed out underneath her feet. She clung to Bane, almost dizzy from the constant movements around her.

She looked up into Bane's face. His gaze softened.

He leaned over and kissed her lips. "Proud of you."

With Bane's unwavering support and patient guidance, Daisy walked further along the shore, her once-tense muscles relaxed, and her spirit lifted. The fear that had held her captive for so long began dissipating, replaced by a newfound sense of empowerment.

Bane had helped her push away the nightmares, and in return, she'd given him another thing they could enjoy together.

As they strolled hand in hand, the sea breeze and the soft touch of the sun caressed her skin. She glanced at Bane, her eyes shimmering with gratitude and newfound courage, knowing that with him by her side, she could conquer her fear of the beach and any challenges life threw at her.

Bane grunted. "You can't look at me that way, babe."

"And which way is that?" She lifted her brows, teasing him.

He pulled her in front of him and bent her over his arm, kissing her deeply. "How about we cut our stroll short and head back to the duplex where I can fuck you without getting sand in the crack of my ass?"

She laughed, pulling him back in the direction of home.

Running on the shoreline pleased her because she had something to look forward to when she reached the duplex.

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