The sound that left her lungs was a mix of a sigh and a sob. For the first time in months, her chest felt wide. Her ribs expanded. The chair held her weight completely, allowing her nervous system to finally stop "guarding" her muscles.

When the box arrived three days later, it felt like Christmas for her spine. Emma unfolded the chair in the center of her rug. Her first move wasn't a complex pose; she simply sat backward, threading her legs through the frame, and leaned back over the rounded top rail.

Clicking "Add to Cart" felt like a contract with her future self.