THE HOUSE INSIDE ME
Page 36
Each of us reacted differently, but nonetheless, through it all, a portion of love was to be found in the mix, waiting on us to claim it, take it back. Love ourselves through the pain.
In a way, Edna didn’t think she deserved to be loved in her true form, but Hadnot showed her differently and that made all the difference in the world. It’s inconceivable to imagine someone could love us in our authentic form, the ugliness of raw reality, but when it happens, it transforms us. It allows us not only to accept and receive that love from others, but to also love ourselves. That may be the hardest part. I laid an armful of flowers down by the mailbox and took in the scent and walked down the sidewalk smiling. The smile turned to laughs. It looks like Adsila got her answer, but most of all, like myself, like Maw Sue…
Edna made lovely her losses.
The End.
A Special Note from the Author
Thank you for reading!
Please post a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Ratings and reviews helps readers discover the book. Follow me on social media and give me a ‘shout out. I love to connect with my readers, hear their stories and see snapshots of your creative book vibes. Snap a photo of you reading The House Inside Me and post it to Instagram or Facebook with HASHTAG
#TheHouseInsideMe
#CameliaWheatley
I routinely pick my favorites and share them. Now that we’ve had some fun, let’s get serious.
This story has triggers. For those of you that had meltdowns, felt panic or triggered by a prior trauma you experienced, I am truly sorry. Just know that I prayed for you in advance. I have been there. I understand trauma well. I understand mental health issues well. I sincerely pray that you will rise up from the hardships you have faced, like Cassidy—like myself and others I’ve known. Find safety and face your traumas and begin to heal from them. This story takes on a lot of challenges and hard subjects; mental illness, rape, dysfunctional relationships, emotional abuse, family dynamics, and more. I hope above all, it opens the door to more serious discussions. All in all, I pray the story changes you, impacts you, rattles you the core, makes you cry and laugh, and think a little differently. Mostly, I hope you discover the supernatural reality that is beyond us, bigger than any of us imagine. I pray you rediscover the child within you and the magic she still holds. She will help you to recover and find your true authentic self, so that you can begin your journey home.
You can heal. You can recover.
You can rise above anything that has tried to beat you down or destroy you. And please remember that we often do not know the whole story behind other people’s actions. There maybe a deeper vault of things you do not know. More so, they themselves may not know. Other people’s battles are not yours to fight. It’s hard not to take it personally, and I cannot say which route is the best to take in every situation. I know that most of all, your journey is about you, so if you concentrate on your recovery, you can deal with just about anything else that comes along. However, you cannot do it alone. Seek the help of a professional. Then and only then, can you find the road to recovery and do the self-help work you need along the journey to healing and finding authenticity.
Your inner child.
Your one true voice.
You CAN make lovely your losses.
May all the good come to you.
Thank you for reading.
And let’s Start the Conversation, shall we? Join me online where we’ll discuss the book, triggers, mental health, quotes, self-help books and more. Look for my highly anticipated CAM TALK podcast where we’ll talk women issues, self-growth, and the crisis of mental health which affects one in five women across the globe.
~ Camelia
* * *
If you are struggling, please seek help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 1-800-273-8255. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
If you are a victim of sexual assault, get help now. Don’t wait. Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
A NOTE ON OWLS AND OTHER BIRDS:
Although this story is fiction, it talks about dead or injured owls used in sacrificial ceremonies tribal in nature. It’s a made-up story, fiction, a product of my imagination but I feel in this sensitive climate we live in, that I need to address this officially in case others are not aware. I would not want anyone to be influenced to break the law, because of a fictional story.
In the US and Canada, the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act made it illegal to trap, kill, possess, sell or harass migratory birds, and the protection includes their eggs, nest and feathers and other parts. There are exceptions to the law and special permits may be given, game birds taken in season and for researchers, Native Americans also are allowed to possess certain eagle and hawk feathers. For more information on specifics, see the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Acknowledgments
To my great-great grandmother. Although you are long gone from this world, your presence in my childhood made an impact on my life that has never left, and your storytelling greatly inspired this novel by our long walks in the woods, two locust leaf crowns and one majestic story that has been the cornerstone of my whole life since the age of five. Thank you for introducing me to Jesus.
DIY Immortelles Everlasting
The Petal People
The Immortelles Everlasting flowers are a ritual of mine as well as the characters in the book. I wanted to share the ritual with you. They make beautiful dried flower arrangements for your home, or you can use them to remember a specific loved one, after they’ve passed on, or a special event, or for a ceremony, or maybe you need to let someone go, the symbolism can be all yours, so however you need to do it, it is a personal and heartfelt choice, so just make it your own.
Step 1: Select your flower petals. This can be plucked from a bush, bought at a store, from a funeral, special event, etc…
Step 2: Whether you have a bunch of flowers or one flower, tie a ribbon or twine around the ends of the stem.
Step 3: Place the flowers upside down to hang in a dark closet or area where it is dry (no humidity) and no light for up to two weeks.
Step 4: After two weeks, check the flower for dryness. Be very careful in touching it, dried flowers are fragile.
Once dried, place the Petal People in your favorite vase, on your bookshelf, or hang them upside down in bunches, along with other dried herbs. The beauty and symbolism of dried flowers for me, is much like the poem by Sessa Ainsley in the story. They are the grief takers, the memory makers, and they symbolize eternal life where we will one day join those who have gone before us. Whatever they symbolize for you, I hope you find the Petal People beautiful and everlasting.
Have you made your own Immortelles Everlasting Petals? Snap a pic and share them with me at Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see them and hear your story.
#PetalPeople #Immortelles
#CameliaWheatley #TheHouseInsideMe
About the Author
Camelia Wheatley is an American author. She is an advocate for mental health for teens and women. Her upcoming highly anticipated Podcast CAM TALK opens up the discussion on this topic that affects one in five women across the globe. Camelia lives in the South and is busy working on her next novel. THE HOUSE INSIDE ME is her first work of fiction.
Other Books by Camelia Wheatley
Coming Soon!
www.CameliaWheatley.com
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