Moving On

Helena opened her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. It took her a few moments to gather her senses, and when she did, she heard Gabby snoring lightly. It was 4 in the morning when she looked at her watch. Helena crept out of the sleeping bag and carefully carried her yoga mat outside without disturbing her friend's rest. She propped it up on the grass and sat down to meditate.

Helena sits with her back straight, and her eyes closed. Her hands lay still in her lap, palms facing up. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. As she does so, her chest expands, and her shoulders relax. She notices the slight breeze against her skin, and a feeling of peacefulness overcomes her as she immerses herself in the present moment.

After a 10-minute meditation, she prepared for her morning Yoga. Helena's chest rose and fell with her deep, steady breaths as her eyelids fluttered shut in relaxation. She inhaled slowly and deeply, letting the fresh morning air fill her lungs. Her shoulders and muscles released their tension, allowing a sense of peacefulness to wash over her like a wave. She felt a renewed energy coursing through her veins as she moved into position to begin her practice.

As she moved into downward dog, Helena felt heat rush through her body. She closed her eyes and focused on her breath, feeling the tension in her muscles release with each exhale. She held the pose for several breaths before moving into warrior one, her body strong and steady.

Helena felt relaxed, and her body was light as she walked from the woods to the river. As she walked further into the river, the water reached her waist, and the current pulled at her legs. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before diving into the water, letting it envelop her completely.

The coldness of the water shocked her system, and she began to panic, her lungs burning for air. But as she opened her eyes and looked around, she saw the beauty of the underwater world. The sunlight filtered through the water, illuminating the fish and plants surrounding her. She felt weightless and free as if all her troubles were left behind on the riverbank.

For a moment, Helena forgot about her problems and enjoyed submerging in the water. But as she felt her lungs ache for air, she knew she had to resurface. She kicked her legs and pushed herself up, breaking through the water's surface with a gasp for air.

It felt refreshing and calming. Helena closed her eyes again and let herself float, her back on the water, letting the water embrace her. She felt like a weight had lifted off her shoulders like she was finally free. She felt a small glimmer of hope for the first time after Arthur had left her.

"I am enough," she started an affirmation. "I am beautiful. I am strong." She felt every word she uttered deep in her soul.

She knew she couldn't escape her problems or push people away. She had to face them head-on, even if it meant feeling vulnerable and exposed. She had to learn to love herself first and trust that the right person would come when the time was right.

Meanwhile, Gabby's body was tense in the water. Her eyes were wide open, and her palms were sweaty as she moved her arms and legs in a frantic effort to reach her friend. Helena was floating in the water about twenty meters away. The sun started shining on the river's surface, and the water was calm, but the churning of Gabby's emotions was the opposite.

Gabby had seen Helena yesterday just fine, happy even. But now she was floating in the river, her long red hair spread out around her. Gabby's heart raced as she swam harder, faster than ever before, as if she could change the situation if she had just reached Helena in time.

When she was close enough, Gabby could see that Helena's eyes were closed, and her lips moved slightly as if she were talking to herself. Gabby let out a deep sigh of relief; at least Helena was alive. But why was she here? Why was she in the river this early? Why she chose to come here alone? Gabby had so many questions.

Gabby reached out to touch Helena's arm, but Helena opened her eyes and screamed before she could. Gabby jumped back in shock, terrified by her friend's sudden reaction.

"I'm sorry, Gabby; I didn't mean to scare you. I wasn't expecting some company early in the morning here," she said apologetically.

Gabby chuckled. "It's okay; I think we both scare each other," she said, holding her chest to calm herself. But Helena! What are you doing here?" Gabby asked.

Helena stared at Gabby for a moment before replying, her voice full of hope. "I wanted to be in the water. I wanted to feel the sun's warmth on my skin and the coolness of the river on my body."

Gabby stepped closer and reached for Helena's hand. "That's great; I'm happy you are doing things that make you feel better," she said softly. "How long have you been here? I think you're already cold."

She grinned. "I am." Helena's skin is pale, and her lips are blue from the coldness of the water. Her body is shivering, and her teeth are chattering as she speaks. Her clothing is soaked and clinging to her frame like a second skin.

"Let me help you," Gabby said, her voice full of concern. "Let me take you back to the campsite."

Helena nodded slowly and allowed Gabby to help her back to the riverbank. Gabby wrapped her arm around Helena's waist and guided her back through the water. She was relieved when they finally reached the riverbank, and Helena collapsed into her arms. Gabby held her tightly, trying to make her friend feel safe.

"It's okay," Gabby said softly, "I'm here."

Helena stayed in Gabby's arms briefly before pulling away a little. "Thank you, Gabby. We can move to my beach house later this afternoon and start a new life."

"Ellen," Gabby exclaimed. "Are you sure?."

Helena nodded and wiped away her tears. "I am. I know I needed to move on from this chapter of my life."

"Oh, my sweet Ellen, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. But why are you crying?" She asked, wiping her best friend's tears.

"It's kind of a happy tears," she giggled. "By the way, I'm sorry for worrying you earlier. I thought I won't take long in the river, but time flies quickly. It's almost six in the morning."

"Nah. Don't think about it. For now, let's just go to the campsite, prepare breakfast, eat, and then pack up our things before we head to your beach house," Gabby said.

"Sounds like a perfect plan. Let's go." Helena grabbed her hand, and they walked through the woods.

Helena was filled with conflicting emotions as she returned to her tent with Gabby. On the one hand, she was determined to find healing and true love, but deep down, she still had a glimmer of hope that Arthur would return to her.

No matter how much she tried to ignore it, at times, the memories she spent with Arthur seemed like they were playing on a loop in her mind. Her chest tightened at the thought of him being so kind and sweet. She wished he didn't lie to her so she could live with Arthur beside her for the rest of her life.

But Helena knew she had to move on, which would be a challenging journey, but she was determined to take the first step.