Echoes of Her

"Being here will help you forget your worries for a while." Gideon handed Tess a twig.

"This is called red bark. Smell it. It will help you relax."

Tess took a sniff, and the subtle, lingering scent indeed made her feel at ease.

"How do you know so much?"

Gideon walked ahead of her, glancing back with a hint of a smile.

"There's a lot I know that you haven't seen."

Tess paused slightly. As he turn