Linda & Greg Morris's Arc

Chapter 3 of 11

Linda stood at the library desk and asked where to find books on counseling and group therapy. The librarian pointed toward the back corner, past the wooden shelves and reading chairs. Greg followed, running his finger along the spines until he found what they needed. They checked out three books and drove home in silence, both thinking the same thing—this small town library held the first real tools they needed to make their support group work. That evening, Linda opened the first book at the kitchen table. Greg read over her shoulder. One chapter talked about building trust through shared meals and casual conversation. Linda looked up. "We need a place where people already feel comfortable," she said. Greg nodded and suggested the Grand Cinema Palace downtown. The old theater had a lobby where neighbors gathered before movies, talking over popcorn and soda. It was the kind of place where people laughed together and let their guard down. Linda wrote it in her notebook as a possibility for future meetings. The next morning, they walked through the town square. Greg stopped at a statue near the fountain—two figures carved in stone, leaning toward each other with their hands joined. The Love Statue had stood there for decades, weathered but still strong. Linda touched the cold stone and thought about what it represented. Partnerships that stayed together through hard times. Commitment that didn't break when things got difficult. She looked at Greg. "This is what we want people to remember," she said. He agreed. The statue reminded them why their support group mattered. Back at the community center, Linda knelt on the sidewalk with a piece of white chalk. She drew a heart on the pavement near the entrance, then wrote the meeting time and day inside it. The heart-shaped design looked simple but welcoming. Greg stood behind her and watched. When she finished, he helped her make two more chalk hearts along the path. People walking by would see them and know there was a place for struggling couples to come and talk. Linda stood and brushed the chalk dust from her hands. They had books to guide them, a statue to inspire them, and now an invitation for anyone who needed help. Their support group was becoming real.