The first part of this book is my story, though certain characters, places, and contexts have been altered for confidentiality. The last part, I believed, was fiction. But what is truly extraordinary is that six or seven years later, that imagined life—the one I had written for Camille—became reality. Almost exactly as I had described it. Moments I had thought were pure inventions played out in real life, down to the smallest details: the names, the paintings, the titles, the colors of a dress, the precise unfolding of scenes. It was as if, without knowing it, I had written my own future.

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And now, this book embarks on a new journey, finding its way to readers across the ocean. Seeing it published today in the

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United States fills me with immense joy and a deep sense of purpose. I know this book has already touched and helped many people. Over the years, I have received countless letters and messages from readers telling me how Les Autruches transformed their lives or gave them the strength to move forward when they felt lost. I have also heard from doctors, psychotherapists, and psychologists who have recommended it to their patients.

This book has a life of its own. It follows its own path. And I am simply here to accompany it as it continues to reach those who need it most.

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If you have this book in your hands, it’s no coincidence. May this story help you, guide you, inspire you. May these words give you the power and the courage to believe that, whatever happens, everything is possible.

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Thank you.

Marie-Amélie Chéreau, April 2025