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We all walk with shadows.

We are made of both light and dark, and for us to function as whole, honest beings, we have to let the darkness speak. Doubt, fear, guilt—these aren’t flaws; they’re warnings, whispers, reminders of where we’ve been and what we still carry.

But when we shove those feelings aside… when we pretend they don’t exist… they grow louder. They twist, they swell, they overwhelm. Shadows don’t disappear just because we refuse to face them.

In Far From Oz, we learn what happens when we ignore the darkness for too long.

And what it means to finally face the darkness within

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📘 Excerpt from Far From Oz

The darkness returns as the farmhouse fades, and I stare into the eyes of a worried soul. Timothy’s grip on my arms is firm. He looks down into my eyes, his expression filled with fear. “Dorothy, please, say something.”

I don’t know what to say; my words fail me. All I can do is look into his brown eyes. He needs to hear me. He needs to know that I am alright, but I can’t find the words. I am not alright. I had stepped into a dream, and I wanted it to take me.

Timothy releases a heavy sigh as he pulls me closer. Without thinking, I bury my face in his chest. His arms wrap around me, and I melt into his embrace. I need him, but I cannot have him.

The warmth of Timothy’s embrace offers a fleeting sanctuary, a place where the shadows momentarily seem less fearsome. Yet even in his arms, the conflict within me thrives. His presence is both my salvation and my undoing, for with each heartbeat that aligns with mine, I am reminded of the danger that my proximity brings to him.

“Dorothy,” Timothy’s voice is both stern and gentle. “You’re safe now, but we need to be careful. Whatever’s calling to you, it’s not leading you anywhere good. We can fight it, together.”

“Timothy, I—I’m scared,” I whisper. “Everywhere I turn, the darkness is just a step behind.”

His hands tighten on my back. “You’re not alone in this,” he lifts my chin so our eyes meet. “We will face this together. You’re not a harbinger of doom. You’re someone worth fighting for.”

✨ Step back into Oz… the version that doesn’t stay in the light.

👉 Read Far From Oz on Amazon: https://a.co/d/faI9lYZ

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