#Healing Her

[julesthequirky]

Healing Her: Chapter 1

All my work is purely aimed at those 18+ so minors, kindly DNI.

Summary: Three years ago you escaped your abusive ex, but he left you mentally broken, with PTSD. He was an officer of the law, and it's killed any trust you had with the policing organisation. You've learnt to never get involved with a cop. Moving to Montana, you feel you can finally breathe. It's the furthest you can get away from your ex, the furthest you can get away from his influence.

Pairings/Characters: Beau Arlen x Reader, OC Zadie.

Chapter Warnings: PTSD, grounding techniques, anxiety, triggers.

W/C: 1,789

A/N: This chapter has two perspectives, the reader's and Beau's.

This work is unbeta’d so all mistakes are mine. If you like it, heart, and reblog it. All feedback is gold.

Zadie’s Coffee Shop was bustling with so many people that you could barely get through the door. Already, the anxiety was working through your veins, almost causing you to back out, but the smell of coffee hit your nose, and the pull of the warmth was just too great. You could do this. You could push yourself. Prove to everyone you could. Prove to yourself. You were scared, but you had just as much of a right to be there as much as everyone else did. Plus, this morning was the only time in the day you had.

Someone shifted, and you slipped to the back of the line. Your eyes darted around, and you couldn’t truly relax. You were hypervigilant, aware of everything. Thankful just to be out of the cold, you rubbed your hands together, quickly warming up and tried looking over the heads at the menu to consider what you’d have. November had hit, and all the holiday drinks had come in. Earlier that week, during a quieter time, Zadie had gushed over all the new drinks she would be showcasing, and you couldn’t wait to sample them all.

The line thinned a little, and you slowly made your way to the front. You still hadn’t decided, but she saw you and smiled. Today, Zadie’s afro looked as glorious and flawless as ever. Her make-up was on point, and a silver highlighter shimmered on her cheekbones. You remembered her saying that Christmas was her favourite time of the year.

“Hey, girl. Don’t worry. I gotchu. You’re gonna love it.”

She spun around with the largest mug and began working on your coffee. You concentrated on the sounds of the machines, the smell of the beans and the way Zadie moved as she made your drink. It kept you grounded.

Zadie slipped the coffee in your direction a few moments later with a warm smile.

“How much do I owe you?”

“Four, seventy-five.”

You nodded and pulled out your wallet from your bag. Your hands fumbled as you pulled notes out. A note went trailing to the floor.

Why haven’t you prepared? God, why do you have to be so awkward? Zadie thinks you’re an idiot. Hurry up, dumbass. Put something down. There’s a whole ass queue behind you. Useless. Slow. Stupid. That’s what you are.

These thoughts flooded your brain, and you struggled to remember the thoughts to counter the negative ones. Your heart hammered, and everything was getting clammy. Your tongue felt like a useless lump of muscle in your mouth, and worst of all, you struggled to pull your breaths in.

A finger tapped you on the shoulder, and you felt like your skin had moved away from your bones. You jumped so high.

“Woah, woah. Didn’t mean ta startle ya.”

The accent struck you. It wasn’t often you heard a Texan accent in Montana. You turned to the voice. The kindest and most sincere green eyes greeted you, along with the prettiest face you’ve ever seen. His hair hung over his forehead, making you want to gently slide it back in place. The man smiled and held out the note between two fingers. With a strained smile, you took it and plopped it onto the counter for Zadie.

Zadie took the money, and you were taking your coffee, desperately trying to move out of the crowd. Finally, you made it to the bank of tables. There was a single two-seater table free, and you took it happily.

Your hands cupped the ceramic mug, and you focused on your breaths before doing anything else. In through the nose and back out. Nice and slow. You could feel it working. Your heart rate lowered, and you could feel the tension ease off your shoulders.

“Five. Table. Spoon. Window. Door. Zadie—”

You forced yourself to pause between each word, speaking them to yourself softly. You paused to take another deep, long breath.

“Four. Chair. Floor. Table. Mug—”

Another deep, long breath.

“Three. Coffee machines. The hubbub. The bell tinkle.”

You were pretty eased by now, and the negativity in your mind was a distant thought. You took another deep breath.

“Two. Coffee beans. Cologne. One.”

You picked up the coffee mug and stirred in the cream on top. Most of it had melted as you went through your exercise, and that was okay. You brought it up to your nose for a cursory sniff. It smelled nutty. You took a tentative sip and let the hot coffee sit on your tongue. Walnut? Praline? Maybe. It was definitely a sweet nut, but not hazelnut. Though Zadie’s hazelnut lattes were phenomenal.

“Praline latte.”

“Grounding technique, eh?”

You almost choked on your coffee as it went down. It was the Texan.

“This seat free?”

He gestured to the empty chair, and you nodded. He slid the chair out and put his to-go cup down before sitting. He took the lid of his cup and stirred his coffee with one of those little sticks. A few tables away, a spoon clattered to the table loudly, startling you. You twisted in the direction of the sound, surveying the diners. Nothing was out of the ordinary. It was just a spoon. An accident. That’s all.

“You’re like a deer, ya know. Easily startled.”

You turned back to him. Did he say something?

“Hmm?”

He just smiled and shook his head, replacing the lid on his cup. Then he slipped a strip of paper over. You looked at it, then at him, confusion lining your features.

“My number. If you wanna grab a coffee, meal, or whatever. Names Beau.”

Your stomach dropped, and that awareness shot to the back of your head. Why was he giving you his number? Why was he even wanting a date?

But you slowed your thoughts down. He was waiting for your answer. You pushed your fist into the soft flesh of your thigh.

“Thanks.”

He grinned, nodded and then left the coffee shop. As he returned to his truck, you watched from your seat beside the window. A big bright red thing. When he drove away from the lot, you pushed your coffee over and put your head on the table.

Fuck. Why couldn’t you just be normal for once?

Beau

Beau sat at his desk, tapping his pen against the surface. His mind was on the woman he met at the coffee shop. He wondered if it was even the right time to start getting back out there. Something about her propelled him to hand over his number like a puppy-eyed teen to a crush. He shook his head and tried getting her startled expression out of his mind. She was like a deer.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

He hadn’t even seen Jenny walk in. Her presence pulled him out of his mind and back onto the task at hand.

“Ah, nothin’.”

He started sorting the folders in front of him, absentmindedly putting them in an order he would ultimately forget later.

“Oh, come on. Everything okay?”

Her tone became more concerned, and she stood there, eyes softening to his plight.

“Nah. It’s really nothing…well…just this woman. Met her in the coffee shop, Zadie’s. I did something stupid and gave her my number.”

Jenny’s eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Wow. And?”

“And nothin’. She took it.”

Jenny stepped closer and leaned against the desk.

“Why are you so deep in thought, lookin’ like your brows about to join forces they’re that close together? What’s got you all tangled up?”

Beau furrowed his brow and rubbed his forehead with his hand, pulling a face at her words. He sighed and stopped organising the folders.

“How do you know when it’s time to get back on the horse?”

Jenny tilted her head, paired with another raise of her eyebrows. Then she leant back and shrugged her shoulders.

“Honestly. It’s different for everyone. But if you think the time is right, I’d say go for it. What have you got to lose?”

Beau nodded and smiled.

“So, who’s the lucky lady?”

Beau’s smile turned into a grin.

“Ah, you wouldn’t know her. Hell, I sure as hell don’t. But there’s something about her. I picked up a note that slipped from her wallet and handed it back to her, y’know. A Disney prince in real life.”

Jenny snorted and covered her mouth with her hand, hiding her laughter from him.

“What?”

She waved her hands no and turned away from his direction. She headed out, and Beau heard her laugh as she told Officer Pumpernickel.

*

After checking in with Emily, Beau started his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. He hadn’t yet received a text from the woman in the coffee shop. If she wasn’t interested…well, that was okay, and maybe he would just wait a little bit longer before getting back on the horse.

His phone pinged from a text message. His phone lit up, and his eyes glanced at the device attached to the dashboard. The text came from an unknown number. He grinned and continued driving. He passed Zadie’s and saw her locking up. She was alone, and he slowed to a stop outside her store.

“Evening, Sheriff.”

Beau nodded as he stepped out of his vehicle. He wanted to know more about the woman he had given his number to. And Zadie would surely know, right? He made his way over to her.

“That woman who didn’t order, you pretty close to her?”

After shoving a hat on, Zadie nodded and tucked stray curls behind her ear. It was a little chilly out.

“She told me someone gave her a number. Couldn’t believe my ears when she described you.”

Beau frowned, and Zadie shook her head, holding her hands up in mock surrender.

“It’s not my story to tell, but I do know this—you’re not her type.”

Zadie checked the door was locked and walked off, leaving Beau to ponder what on earth she meant. He looked down at the phone in his hand and opened up the text.

UNKNOWN: Coffee sounds great 😊

If he wasn’t her type, then why did she send a text?

Beau shoved his phone back into his pocket and returned to his truck. He slammed the door shut. Zadie’s words played around and around in his head.

He fished his phone back out, opened her text, and stared at her words. He pushed Zadie’s words to the back of his mind and replied to Y/N’s message.

BEAU: Sunday sound alright? 2PM?

Beau fired the text off without another thought, started the truck’s engine, and drove home. He still hadn’t gotten her name, but he knew that would all come in time.

[beif0ngs]

I had a different name back then, you know. Powder. You kind of remind me of her.

[diamondsunbursts-and-marblehalls]

Athena, goddess of wisdom, and all-powerful, being the only person that Annabeth could call on for help; being so cruel that she would be complicit in her daughter's death just out of spite.

Percy, age 12, weak and dying, having told Annabeth they could never be friends; not only sacrifices himself to save Annabeth's life without a minute's thought, but does it without her having to ask for help.

[girlwithrituals]

GLOW UP GUIDE FOR 2025⠀

READ: On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And considering that 2025 is precisely these many days away, why not start with our glow up plan already?

Physical Glow Up-

BODY

— 5-10K steps a day.

— 7-8 hours of sleep.

— workout everyday for 1 hr atleast- yoga/stretching/pilates/cardio/lifting weights. a workout may take one hour, but your mood will be boosted for the next 12 hours.

— posture training.

— sunlight exposure after waking up for at least 10 minutes.

NUTRITION

— 2-3 liters of water every day.

— limit your caffeine intake.

— avoid sugars as much as you can.

— high protein diet, pre and probiotics.

— more fruits and veggies (+ green smoothies if you like).

— no junk/processed food/trans fat.

— no eating after 8 pm.

SKINCARE

— be clear on your skin type (oily, dry, combination, sensitive).

— once you're clear, use these accordingly- cleanser, toner, targeted serum, eye cream, moisturizer, sunscreen (≥50 spf).

— keep your bedding clean as well.

— no picking of skin on your lips, cuticle etc.

— gua sha to help improve blood circulation and lessen toxins.

— cold therapy may take three to five minutes of being uncomfortable, but your energy levels will be boosted for the rest of the day.

— remove makeup before you go to bed.

BODY CARE

— shower every day.

— exfoliate 2x a week.

— use body lotion (shea butter/aloe vera gel/coconut oil).

HAIR CARE

— wash hair 2-3x a week

— oil your scalp 2x a week, at least 3 hours before shampoo.

— hair mask 1x per week.

— never brush wet hair.

— use silk pillow case.

HYGIENE

— brush your teeth 2x a day, clean tongue and the roof of the mouth daily.

— floss daily.

— cut your nails 1x a week, never remove the cuticles.

— glycolic acid under arm for odor and discoloration.

— never use soap on your coochie.

Mental Glow Up-

MINDSET

— set clear goals- define and breakdown your aspirations.

— start your mornings with positive affirmations.

— surround yourself with uplifting content and people.

— be shamelessly selfish to your career and mental health, remove anyone or anything that doesn't align with your priorities and wellbeing.

— boost your brain health by these 4 neuroscience tools:

difficult first: start your day with the most difficult task (cortisol and dopamine are high in the body meaning that your body/mind is primed to work).

rest your eyes: introduce a micro-pause after learning by resting/closing your eyes - will help retain information better.

tomorrow's worries: write tomorrow's to-do list before bed as it is proven to be effective in helping you fall asleep.

find time to play: engage in low-stake play. can be anything you find fun but where the outcome doesn't matter (induces neuroplasticity + reduces stress).

MIND

— meditation might take as low as ten minutes, but your focus will be improved for the rest of the day.

— no social media after waking up and at least an hour before bed.

— keep aside 1 hr of time to read daily! reading a new book may take five hours, but you will keep the knowledge forever.

— journaling, gratitude.

— digital detox once a week or for 12 hours.

— limit unnecessary screentime, unfollow or cut off people you don't want to see.

JOURNALING

— choose a regular time each day to journal, making it a part of your routine.

— find a quiet, comfortable place free from distractions. light a candle if you want.

— allow your thoughts to flow without censoring or editing.

— write about your feelings and emotions to understand them better. write about things you are thankful for to boost your mood. write about your short-term and long-term goals. identify what triggers certain emotions or reactions

— set a timer for 5-10 minutes and write continuously during that time.

— reflect on both positive experiences and challenges.

— make lists, journal your thoughts on these questions.

— journal at night to clear your mind before bedtime, because emotions and thoughts lose their power once we acknowledge them.

— a gratitude practice may take five minutes, but your mindset will be shifted for the rest of the day.

AFFIRMATIONS

— customise affirmations to your needs.

Personal Life-

WEEKLY TASKS

— initiate small changes: begin with small, manageable tasks such as making your bed or cleaning your room every sunday.

— celebrate your success: reward yourself when you achieve your goals or have a consistently productive week. consider treats like buying flowers for yourself or watching your favorite show.

DAILY WORK

— set achievable goals: establish realistic goals for the day, week, or month ahead.

— track your progress.

— organise your work space, declutter your shelves etc.

— embrace the power of lists: keep a list of tasks to be done and their deadlines. this way, you start each day with a clear plan. to make it visually appealing and motivating, consider using productivity apps like evernote, habit tracker, or notion.

PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

— wake up early.

— plan ahead everything, do scheduling. you can use:

google calendar / notion / tasks .

— if the task takes less than 2 minutes to finish, do it immediately.

— countdown rule, if you are procrastinating, count 1-2-3-4-5 and jump.

— start slow, don't rush and try to do everything at one time.

— follow a proper routine, use app locks based on screentime.

— pomodoro technique, 25 min work, and 5 min break.

— schedule longer break times as well e.g 30 min nap.

[hotdyke-hardstyle]

It's a sunny day The gang's all here No chip on my shoulder A-ha-ha-ha-ha

[becomingthatgirl111]

these are the habits you have to give up before the year is out:

worrying about people and things you can’t control

negative conversations with others

obsessing about what others think

lying for others

expect others to do what you want them to do and get angry if they don't do it

creating expectations on others

gossiping

making excuses for not taking care of your responsibilities

lying to yourself

putting your needs lasts

giving priority to other people's opinions rather than your own

letting the negative opinions of others affect you

limiting yourself

comparing themselves to others and putting them on a pedestal

giving prominence to people who do not deserve it

set boundaries with others but not with yourself

spending too much time on social media

habits you need to implement:

create a daily routine that you feel comfortable with and suits you

calming your mind a few times a day

positive affirmations and healthy thoughts

complimenting others and congratulating their success

letting go of things you can’t control

ending toxic relationships

more time outside

making yourself and your health a priority

self compassion and self forgiveness

taking responsibilities

more self care

beginning with a motivation each day

do what you need for yourself

starting something new (activity, hobby, habit)

not to depend on others and to learn to do things you want to do on your own

focus on the good things and not on the things you don't like

exercise and eat healthy for the sake of your body and not to fit into a beauty canon

getting out of your comfort zone

focus on building healthy relationships rather than being guided by false expectations of how relationships should be

be true to yourself and your values

not to sell or denigrate you for money or lavish gifts

[malinaa]

if i think about the hunger games in peeta's perspective i WILL start sobbing

[slfcare]

one day you’ll yearn for the person you are now, to tell them, "hey, look, it turned out to be okay" and "i’m so grateful you’ve held on" and "things just worked out somehow". you’ll want to hold their hand and give them the wisdom that the future is actually better, and you know it because you’re living it. but you can’t reach through time like that. the only way to bridge the gap between the you of today and the you who’s doing better, is to hold onto the hope that they exist. 

[cocopudu]

rarity, our gorgeous art collector gf 🖼️💎⭐️

[drenched-in-sunlight]

i love the DLC man

[julesthequirky]

Summary: She’s a DV survivor with PTSD, newish to town, ready to make a fresh start. She spots Beau one morning in the local coffee shop, but it doesn’t matter how cute or how puppy dog he appears. He’s a cop. Worse, the Sheriff. And if there’s anything she’s learnt, it’s to never ever get involved with a cop.

She’s new in town, lives in the trailer park and Beau sees her one morning. She’s got a nice smile, and Hell he can’t resist her charm, that is until her smile freezes and bolts. Beau can’t understand what he did wrong, but he’s determined to find out.

A/N: this ain’t even written. So coming soon… damn these ideas….

[backpackingspace]

My actual favorite part of wisdom saga is telemachus trying to lean against Athena (he thought about that for .03 seconds and then was like nah !!! :D she's my friend not the goddess of war!!! Good to see that the audacity is running strong in odysseus's family) and then just passed threw her and fell on the floor. And then Athena did not move at all!!! And just stood there looking at him.

[pleaseeeimjustagirl]

Sunday Reset<3

[girlwithrituals]

HOW TO STAY UNBOTHERED!

1. Never say more than necessary.

2. Don't allow your emotions to overpower your intelligence.

3. Lower your expectations from others.

4. Let your success do the talking.

5. 10 people 10 different opinions. Stop pleasing.

6. Remember your haters are your fans.

7. Don't be afraid to say "NO".

8. Know your truth and be okay with someone else not believing you.

9. Stop taking things personally.

• Let go of control: You can't control others' actions or words, just your reactions.

• Humor: Learn to laugh things off when appropriate.

• Set boundaries: Limit contact with negativity and prioritize supportive people.

• Communicate clearly: Ask for clarification Instead of assuming negativity

• Shift your perspective: Consider the source and if their comment reflects on them more than you.

• Focus on what you can control: Improve your own communication and self-care.

• Thicken your skin: Build strong self-worth and know your value.

10. Healthy detachment.

• Let people be who they want to be, then decide if you want them in your life.

• Trust that rejection is always redirection to something bigger and better.

• Some people are only meant to help you grow, not be in your life forever.

• What if everything is falling apart to come together in a way you can't guess?

• Focus only on what you can control.

[soldierandawar]

Eddie is such a good father. It takes a good parent to give their child the space they need but still invite someone in who can be a safe space so that Christopher is talking to someone. Giving your child that time speaks volumes of who he is as a person and a father.

He doesn’t want to bust the door down he wants Christopher to open it. He wants the privilege of being allowed back in and he recognizes that he needs to earn it. That he cannot force it upon him. Until then he’s going to do what he can to provide Christopher the support and trust that he probably feels like he’s missing from his dad right now.

[thatrandomblogsays]

RIP Annabeth, I just know Percy sacrificing himself for you, after knowing you for a week, after telling you that you’ve done more for him this week than his father ever has, is permanently altering the brain chemistry of your avoidant attachment self