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From as early as eight years old, Lizzy had treated the floating deck facing the side garden as something more than a mere backyard fixture. During countless weekends and summer breaks, when she had finished with her chores, Dean Hartley would often find his eldest daughter lounging on the long bench, devouring her novels the way one would retreat to her favorite getaway destination to unwind. Throughout her high school years, it had been the source of inspiration for numerous English and Social Studies’ assignments; witnessed the birth of many powerful opening remarks for her district, regional and state debating competitions. And on occasions in which Lizzy had come home weary and troubled, she had treated this particular corner of the backyard as her sanctuary; a place where she could safely strip her shield and armor and reset her equilibrium.
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