Chapter 132

Valeria’s POV

I found a large, sturdy tree, its branches stretching out protectively overhead, and decided to sit beneath it. I took a deep breath, feeling the cool earth beneath me, and closed my eyes, determined to quiet the storm in my mind. I needed focus, clarity. I needed peace. As I sank deeper into meditation, I tried to clear my thoughts, let the tension drain from me. But then, an image