Out of Focus (3) (Chosen Paths)

For years, Cassie Cooper has convincingly played a confident young woman who couldn’t care less about what others think of her actions. But in reality, beneath the bold façade lies a frightened, broken little girl who is suffocating under the weight of her secrets. Out of control, Cassie continues whirling down a treacherous path, searching for anything that will numb her pain. But no one will ever know. With her mask securely in place, she keeps that that scared girl hidden, safe from the scrutiny of prying eyes.

That is, until she meets Grady Bennett. 

The martial arts instructor doesn’t just look at Cassie; he sees her.

And with painstaking patience as their relationship grows, Grady works to help Cassie see herself. Her ferocity. Her strength. Her ability to love and to smile. He pushes her to acknowledge and embrace what she really is...a survivor.

As Cassie faces her tortured past, her walls come down. With her vulnerabilities exposed, she loses sight of her new perspective and plummets once again into her void. 

Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to find the necessary strength to land safely.

And sometimes, life has to be completely Out of Focus in order to finally see.