CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN – SPACE AWAY FROM TOXICITY

The admission hung in the air, raw and visceral, a testament to the insidious grip that the trolls and naysayers had secured upon her psyche. Claire sank back to the floor, her expression softening as she reached out to grasp Jasmine's hands in her own. "Then let us help you," she implored, her eyes shining with a fervent conviction. "Let us remind you of who you truly are, beneath all the noise and the chaos." Gordon's arm encircled Jasmine's shoulders, drawing her against the solid warmth of his chest as he, too, leaned in closer. "You are an artist, Jasmine," he murmured, his words carrying the weight of a sacred truth. "A visionary who has dared to push boundaries and challenge conventions. Your work, your creativity – that is your lifeblood, the essence of what makes you so extraordinary." Jasmine's breath hitched, her eyes slipping closed as she allowed herself to bask in the unwavering belief that seemed to emanate from her dearest confidants. "But it's more than that," Cl