My Year Of Rest And Relaxation Novels & Stories

*** Opening the door to the study, I practically crawl in and throw my body on the couch, my eyes fall closed and I say out loud, “I just need a second” There’s a short laugh followed by ”I see that” I ignore his amusement, his usual reaction when work frustrates me, throwing my legs over the back of the couch, my head hanging over the seat, long hair sweeping the floor. This position always gets my blood flowing and relaxes my spine. I throw a hand over my eyes to block the lights as I try to rest, done with work, I have about an hour, if I’m lucky, two before the twins wake up.

I lowered myself until my head rested on the soft bed of grass. I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh water and dirt, and exhaled. I had no fight left in me, my body relaxed as I drifted into sleep. The more I slept, the faster Max could work, and the sooner I would heal. I stared at the rushing water and listened to the rushing water as it slapped down hard against the water below.

To possess that slender figure, those stunning legs and to be the one to meld the different elements of her personality, her sense of humour, that keen intellect and the scholarly side of her into warm, lovely womanhood… He gritted his teeth suddenly and forced his mind back to her last remark. ‘Uh—yes, I understand perfectly. I’m sorry—’ a smile appeared fleetingly in his eyes ‘—I didn’t realize I was making you feel like that. Actually, going back to what led up to this, one thing I really like to do to relax is fish. I even have a favourite spot that I go up to a couple of times a year. Seisia, but not many people have heard of it.’

“Wait—the camp?” Carolina nodded, bouncing slightly on her heels. “Yes. The self-growth one. With yoga, mindfulness, journaling, cold plunges, guided forest meditations—all of it.” Katherine gasped, covering her mouth. “The one we’ve been trying to get into for, like, three years?” Carolina raised a brow. “Babe. The one that sells out in twenty minutes every year. The one they cap at forty people max.” Katherine was speechless for a beat. “You actually got it?”

Today felt like a rare break from the usual chaos, a day I could simply stay home, relax, and take care of myself. After a long week, all I wanted was a moment to unwind. I settled into the massage chair, switching on the back massage feature, letting it knead the tension out of my shoulders and lower back. My thoughts drifted, imagining a future with Emma, picturing her with a child in her arms, our child, and for the first time, that vision felt real.

We snagged a killer villa on the coast, perched halfway up a hill with an epic view. However, the peace and quiet did not stick around for long. Smith Group was tanking. Stock prices in freefall, cash flow cut off–the whole deal hanging by a thread. Out of the blue, Nash rocked up at my new home. "Look, Jo! These are the treats you used to go nuts for as a kid." I barely gave a glance at the spread on the table, all mango-flavored stuff. The thing was, mango was Rebecca's jam, not mine. I could not even stand the stuff because I was allergic.

Elma. She read two chapters of her book. Fiction. About a woman who left her city and found herself. She underlined one sentence: _Rest is not quitting. Rest is remembering who you are._ She napped for thirty minutes. No guilt. Fan on low. The room warm and safe. When she woke, the light had changed. Softer. Golden. The kind of light that made everything look kinder. Nathan came by at 6:00 PM with suya wrapped in paper and two bottles of cold malt. He didn’t knock loud. He knew she’d hear.

I hummed again, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Still, I let it go. The rest of the day was surprisingly peaceful. For the first time in a while, I had a real “me day.” No exams, no stress, no chaos. Just pure relaxation. I curled up in my bed, blankets wrapped around me like a cocoon, watching a series I had been meaning to catch up on for weeks. Snacks were within arm’s reach, the lights were dimmed just right, and for the first time in forever, I didn’t have anything hanging over my head.

Fastest Trish was surely going to be a warrior later in life. “I was on an impromptu vacation. I needed to renew my energy. You know like when you go trainings, you have period where you rest, I needed mine too. I haven’t gotten a good rest for so many years. Surely, I’m allowed to have that, right?” I said with a wink.

Sasha and Daniel stood in the office, locked in each other's arms, for an entire hour. She was starting to go crazy, but since he didn't let go, she didn't dare to either. The aftermath was that her legs went numb from standing too long, and the cramps from her period hit her with a vengeance. Once Daniel left, Sasha couldn't stand the pain anymore and immediately asked Heidi to bring her a cup of chamomile tea. Heidi walked in, holding the cup, and teasingly said, "Seriously, you said you wanted to sort things out, but you don't look like someone trying to sort things out. If you weren't on your period, you and Mr. Marsh would be in bed by now."