Poseidon (The God Chronicles) Read Online Free Page B

but it wasn't too much. You know?”
    “That’s wonderful! And I do. You have made such progress Audrey. I'm so proud of you.” She grasped my hand as she spoke, happiness radiating from her. “I think you helped the people here today, too. Thank you for coming to speak.”
    “It wasn't a big deal,” I said sheepishly. “I want to help other people. I know what it feels like to be in that place.”
    “That's very nice of you.” She smiled again, patting the top of my hand before she let go and stood up. “I'm so sorry, but I have another appointment I need to get to.”
    “That's totally fine, of course!” I stood as well, picking my purse up off the floor and straightening my skirt. “I'll see you at our appointment next month.”
    “Sounds wonderful.” She smiled at me again as I gathered my things, and then headed off to wherever she was going.
    Alone in the room, I took an extra breath to steady myself. Sharing about John really hadn't been as traumatic as I'd thought it would be, but I still felt shaken some.
    My heels clicked on the pavement as I walked to my car, the summer heat sizzling around me, like I was bacon in a frying pan. I quickly opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. The windshield cover had kept the interior of my vehicle from heating to Hellish levels, but the air conditioning was a gift from Heaven all the same.
    “You'd think I'd be used to the heat after all these years,” I muttered to myself.  Arizona was always two extremes; one day it could be over one hundred degrees and that night it would be below zero.
    Welcome to the desert.
    I fell into a lull of conscious thoughts as I drove from the complex, letting the road and radio take over everything. It was easier that way after my therapy sessions. I was being honest when I said I felt better, that I could handle the pain, but therapy was not always one of those times.
    The tan buildings flashed by as I drove down the road to the freeway. Once there, I joined the few cars going my direction for another ten minutes—the same as always.
    “Same is safe,” I muttered, not even noticing the habit I'd developed over the past few months.
    After I exited the freeway, it was only a few blocks to my apartment. I'd moved after everything had happened, hoping that the memories wouldn't hurt as bad. It had turned out to be partially true.
    “Hi, Audrey.” The college girls that lived across from me were moving the last of their stuff out. I felt bad I still didn't remember their names and had a sneaking suspicion they knew, but they were kind as always.
    “Hi,” I said back, smiling. “Do you need any help moving anything?”
    “Oh, no,” one answered. “We had lots of help with it being the weekend and all.”
    “Good, good.”
    “It was nice living next to you,” the other said. “You were a good neighbor.”
    I smiled again, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead.
    “Good luck with everything in your futures,” I wished them, turning to unlock my door.
    “You, too, Audrey.”
    I waved as I shut the door, the cold air from inside pulling me into its embrace.
    “Hey, Talley,” I said, as I bend down to pet the German Shepherd who was waiting to welcome me. Getting her had been a suggestion of Mary's, a companion to keep me from feeling so lonely. I was hesitant at first, mostly because I didn't feel like I was in any condition to take a life besides my own into my hands, but my dog had quickly become a great friend.
    “Are you hungry, girl? I know I am!” I straightened and kicked my shoes off by the door, leaving my keys and purse on the counter. This place wasn’t much different from what I’d lived in before, but I liked it all the same. There was only one room, at the end of the hall, opposite the door. The kitchen was right inside the entrance, the counter attached to the wall there. The living room was on the other side, a glass door leading to the balcony. It was small and just what I needed.
    After