Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls, #1)

by Catherine Cowles

“I’m not one of those people who thinks everything happens for a reason.” All I could do was grunt in response. If everything happened for a reason, we were all walking around rocking some seriously horrendous karma. But I was surprised that Rho felt that way. She seemed like the kind of person who put meaning behind everything. “Sometimes, absolutely horrible things happen. Things where no silver lining can justify the pain.” An invisible fist locked around my chest at her words, a reminder of the kind of agony she spoke of. Rho’s eyes locked with mine. “But good can come, even out of those darkest depths. It doesn’t mean we’re glad we went through it. It just means we won’t let it change us for the worse.” She didn’t look away as she kept going. “I’ve realized lately that because I lost them, I never take one second with the Colsons for granted. Because my mom can’t see her garden bloom each summer, I take extra time breathing mine in every year. Because my dad won’t ever get to read the new John Grisham, I’ll read it for him and appreciate the twists that much more. And because Emilia won’t ever get to grow old, I’m going to embrace every wrinkle and age spot.” Rho took a deep breath as she set the black-and-white kitten down. “It doesn’t mean I’m glad they’re gone. It doesn’t mean I miss them any less. But I’m going to let that loss teach me, not harden me.” Every inhale felt like breathing fire. Flames scalded my throat and lungs. It was torture just to stay alive. Th...