Linda & Greg Morris's Arc

Chapter 5 of 11

Linda pulled open the community center door and found twelve chairs arranged in a circle. The first meeting had brought three couples. Tonight, seven pairs sat waiting. Greg counted heads twice to make sure he wasn't imagining it. Linda stood at the front and welcomed everyone. She asked each couple to share one thing that had improved since last week. A woman in the third chair talked about eating breakfast together again. Her partner nodded and squeezed her hand. Another couple described going for walks after dinner instead of sitting in separate rooms. Greg listened and wrote notes. When the last pair finished, Linda suggested they celebrate these wins together. She pulled out a flyer for the Arbor House Restaurant—a white Victorian building with teal and blue trim. "Next month," she said, "we'll have dinner there as a group." The room filled with quiet agreement. After the meeting ended, Greg walked outside with Linda. A fountain stood near the building's entrance, its dark iron curves catching the streetlight. Red water cascaded over the metal, creating a steady rhythm that filled the evening air. Greg stopped to listen. The sound made the space feel calm, like arriving somewhere safe. Linda watched the water flow and thought about how far they'd come. Their support group had grown from three couples to seven in just weeks. They walked to the corner where a bright mural covered the brick wall. Hearts in yellow, orange, and pink stretched across the surface. Between the hearts, people had written messages about working through hard times and staying together. Linda touched the painted words. "We should bring the group here next time," she said. Greg agreed. The mural showed what was possible when people didn't give up. Their support group was working. Couples were talking, making changes, and coming back for more. Linda and Greg stood together in the quiet street, knowing they'd built something real.