Chapter 9
The next morning, Marcus got a call from the police station. []
Emma had refused to apologize, made a huge scene at the hospital, and ended up being taken in. []
But when Marcus arrived, he wasn’t angry–just tired. []
Ever since he read my letter the day before, something inside him had started to shift.
He’d been thinking–about Emma, about me.
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And the more he thought, the more anxious he got.
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The more he thought, the more he realized how exhausted he was by Emma.
But every time that thought came up, he’d remind himself–she was sick.
And just like that, all the frustration would get shoved back down again.
It was suffocating. [
57
He wanted to find me.
He wanted to make things right.
He wanted to be a better man.
But I’d made it clear–I never wanted to see him again.
He used to think that Emma’s breakdowns were what broke him. []
But now he knew: [
It was me leaving that truly shattered him. []
And it was too late to fix any of it. [
The police chief–an old buddy from Marcus’s military days–met him at the station. []
After hearing why Marcus had come, he filled him in. [
The hospital had reported the incident, yeah. [
But since the nurse wasn’t seriously hurt, they were trying to handle it privately.[]
All Emma needed to do was apologize.
But she’d completely lost it. []
Refused to back down.
Caused a whole scene.
- e. [
So they had no choice but to hold her overnight. []
Marcus pressed his fingers to his temple and forced a thank–you through gritted teeth. []
Then he picked Emma up and took her home. []
Maybe it was the night in lockup, but Emma looked… unwell. []
The second they stepped through the door, she grabbed Marcus’s sleeve like a lifeline. []
“Don’t leave me,” she begged, tears welling up.
“Just stay for a bit, okay?”
Marcus let out a long sigh.
Перет
“Emma,” he said, voice low.
“You should go back to Seattle.”
“We shouldn’t be in contact anymore.” [
They were both from Seattle.
Emma had moved to Austin to be near him after she got sick.
Back then, Marcus hadn’t had the heart to turn her away.
But now, he couldn’t even stand the sight of her. [
Every time he saw her, he thought of the baby I lost.
Emma’s face twisted.]
Her nails dug into Marcus’s arm.
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“So you’re leaving me too?” she hissed.
Marcus flinched, pulling his arm back. []
“What the hell, Emma?” he snapped. []
“You’ve lost your mind!”
But then he stopped. []
Because something in her face shifted. []
Her hair was messy, her skin pale, but her eyes–her eyes were full of something dark. [
Cruel.
Empty.
“You’re finally catching on,” she whispered. []
Then she smiled. []
Not sweet. Not kind. []
Something twisted.[]
“My whole family gave up on me.[]
You’re all I have left, Marcus.“]
She reached for him again. []
“You’re not going anywhere.” []
Marcus stumbled back, chilled to the bone. []
“What are you talking about?“]
“You came to Austin to treat your depression.” []
Emma let out a laugh that sent a shiver down his spine.]]
“I came to recover, yeah. But it’s not depression.” []
I’m schizophrenic.“D
“My parents are terrified of me.
They wanted me gone
She took another step forward []
“But you… you’re mine, Marcus.” |
Marcus felt his stomach turn.
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“Jesus,” he muttered, shoving the door open. []
“You’re insane.“]
And he left.
But the next morning, she was right there again. []
Sitting patiently on his doorstep.
Smiling like nothing had happened.
From then on, Marcus tried everything to get rid of her.
But Emma didn’t feel shame. []
Didn’t understand boundaries.
Every time she couldn’t find Marcus, she ran to the cops and caused a scene. []
Sometimes, she’d even try to take her own life.
There was nothing Marcus could do.
Again and again, the police would call.
His old unit would reach out. []
Every time, it was about Emma. 0
He never got rid of her.
Not for the rest of his life.
As for me…
I went home.
Right around then, applications opened for the university I’d always dreamed of.
So I hit the books.
Worked hard.
And I got in.
I was twenty–one. [
And for the first time, []
my life was finally moving toward the light.]
