Chapter 5 - Six Months of SilencePeace did not arrive immediately.
It came slowly.
Like dawn after a hurricane.
Julian moved Eleanor to a secluded coastal home north of Miami.
The house sat between the ocean and a wall of tropical forest.
No reporters.
No lawyers.
No cameras.
Just waves.
For the first time in years, Eleanor laughed again.
Julian hired a new nurse named Clara Bennett, a warm, intelligent woman who treated Eleanor like family rather than a patient.
Days became weeks.
Weeks became months.
Julian began sleeping through the night.
He started running along the beach again.
He learned how to cook.
He even smiled.
But sometimes, while standing alone on the balcony, he still remembered the sound of Eleanor hitting the water.
Trauma had a long memory.
One evening, Eleanor joined him.
"You saved my life."
Julian shook his head.
"Anyone would have."
"No."
She looked at him.
"Not everyone would have jumped."
Julian smiled faintly.
"I would jump again."
Eleanor touched his arm.
"I know."
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For the first time, Julian believed they were safe.
He was wrong.
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