Pushing the Leaves Aside: A Short Story

Written by Lauren Bartleson

Narrated by Aleesha Bake

There’s only one word to describe Amara’s life: picturesque. From her complacent husband and their cookie-cutter house to her impeccably-timed morning routine, Amara has what appears to be the perfect life.

During one of her runs, Amara veers off her set path, leaving her routine and expectations behind. What starts as a search to find a neighborhood cat in the off-limits forest turns into an unexpected adventure filled with countless ups and downs.

Designed to listen in one sitting, Pushing the Leaves Aside is an inspiring story of finding your way through the darkness when doing so feels impossible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Three L Press
• Release date: Apr 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798882341588

Lauren Bartleson

Lauren Bartleson is a digital storyteller and communications manager who lives near Portland, Oregon, with her husband, Matt, and their dog, Georgia. By sharing the raw, open, and vulnerable stories that are helping her heal, she hopes to do her part to help break the stigma around mental health. She is the author of Insomnia: A Middle-of-the-Night Haibun Collection and Behind the Facade: A Mental Health Memoir.