Severus Snape has survived, escaping Voldemort, the Ministry of Magic and even Death. He's fighting PTSD while trying to get his life back on track. That might prove difficult when a familiar face shows up who unknowingly brings lots of trouble with...
Note: As always, a huge thanks to my friend for her amazing digital artwork.
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He had continued his therapy with Master Sato disgorging the spy years and had come to accept he had done his best. He had come through those dark times and survived. Now it was time to thrive. As Severus left that medical building, hopefully for the final time, the air he inhaled seemed fresher somehow. He recalled this last hour,
Two weeks of intense therapy had led to this moment. The summarization of what was his life up to this point in time. The pseudo acceptance found in Slytherin. The lure of, and subsequent mesmerization by Tom Riddle. The promises turned into deceptive lies. The fear. The torture. The horrors witnessed. Dumbledore's manipulation, asking the unthinkable. The last leap into the dark abyss of Eternal Damnation as he pointed his wand and spoke the killing curse. The hatred he saw in everyone eyes. Then the tears until there were no more tears left to cry, wrung out to bone dryness. Finally, release of it all...the Past blown away like sand in the desert.
"I'm ready...I'm prepared to leave the past to the ghosts. Or, rather, I can live with it now. The last couple weeks...opening up those wounds again...your guidance-- You've helped me empty that overflowing tea cup, Master Sato. Thank you."
Master Sato nodded and smiled in that gentle way he had,
"You did it, Severus. I merely listened. You have had quite the journey these last weeks. Forgiving yourself is the toughest part. Harder than letting go sometimes. I believe you have done that. Now you can start to move forward and fill that cup up with good things."
Severus wiped away the last teardrop his past would cause him, he hoped. The wizened therapist spoke softly,
"Breathe. This very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."
At that Severus understood he needed to live in the present and fully let go of the past,
"More wisdom from the Buddha...or Confucius?"
Sato chuckled,
"Oprah."
It was the end of July and Winter was, while frosty at night, somewhat pleasant during the day, when the sun shone brightly. Still chilly but Severus had been through plenty of worse Winters.
He spent his days walking the beaches, lazily lounging in the sun on the large rocks, and hiking the many forest trails. Dunedin would be an ideal place to work but Severus wasn't sure he wanted to live there. He was not the city type. He much preferred to be away from the crowds and the bright lights.
