Soul Searching: A Sweetwater Peak Novel

by Lyla Sage

In the dark, the hollowness in my chest felt more pronounced—like if I tapped on my sternum, it would echo through the night.

“It’s weird for me that you’re the baby of the family,” I said. “You’re so steady and responsible.” “My therapist used to say it’s because I spent my life trying to manage the emotions of the adults around me. I didn’t want to cause problems. I wanted everything to be easy. Most of the time, I still do.”

“It feels like I’ve spent the last year or so dropping things as I ran from place to place—like my arms were too full—so I just started leaving things behind. But now I’m not sure what I have left. I think that’s why I’ve got this block. But sometimes when I’m with you, I feel like myself.”

I shrugged. “I like to see a grown man cry every once in a while. It’s good for the soul.”