The scent of disinfectant gives her headache since she was a kid. The hospital is never been a place to give her any sort of willingness to go.
The afternoon falls when they arrive at the hospital. She doesn't know much about her grandparents. She hasn't met them for a long time. So she doubts that she will recognise any of them. However, the moment she gets closer to the impatient ward, few faces appear in her sight who are looking at her with anticipation. Two of them same as hers but she doesn't remember any of their faces, two couples in their mid fifties. She looks at Ash whose feature turns gloom but as soon as he notices her attention to him, the usual smile appears on his face, " They're our family!" " Brother Ash!" One of the girls runs towards him and hugs, " I missed you." Emma scans her. Although she has no common features with her, but she is beautiful. Her dyed blonde hair looks good on her. While she is observing the girl who looks same age hers, her eyes meet the girl's eyes. Instantly, her eyes rise when the girl pushes Ash away and jumps onto her. " Are you Emma!?" Although she is taken aback by her sudden jump, she somehow balances not to fall. She nods, balancing a full-grown woman who is hugging her. " Oh Gosh!!! You have indeed turned into a Beautiful Swan. We used to play together. Remember me? Ashley! Brother Ash's younger sister!" It becomes difficult to recognize or remember about the past since she was staying away from her father and stayed with her mother until she died. So she doesn't remember anything. Still, a polite smile embrace her feature, accepting her words as memories. However, it's clear to see that she is not actually interested in remembering. Ashley notices the visual discomfort and uneasiness and she sighs, " I am a stupid! It's been years. Anyway, Let's meet granny and Grandpa. They're waiting for you!" She smiles, ushering her way to the room. Emma just remains as silent as she is. She doesn't expect much of anything. All she wants is meeting her grandparents for the last time and then stop communicating. Emma has stopped caring about her anything, any family long time ago. She has been living a life of rogue, like a darting star with no connection with anyone. Couch surfing to land a job and moving in a small apartment, she has done everything to make sure she doesn't have anyone to string with. And it's been ten years she left her father's house and she was very young when she met her grandparents. So they're nothing but strangers. " Grandpa, Grandma! Look who is here!" Ashley walks towards the couple who are talking to another couple with a young kid. The moment Ashley walks in the room, their attention fully shift on Emma who is standing with Ash silently. " Is this Emma?" The Elderly Woman almost yells. Maybe because of the age is depending on her shoulder, her voice is weak and dull. " Yes, Grandma! Emma. This is our Grandma!" Ash introduces, walking inside along with her. " Hello!" Emma greets and places the shopping bags that she bought on way here. " For you two!" " Come here! Sweetheart! I missed you!" Grandma smiles, holding her hands. " You have gotten taller and become beautiful! How have you been?" " Fine!" She smiles a bit. " Aren't you going to talk to me? My Princess!" Grandpa who is staring at her finally speaks. His eyes are filled with tears. " Hello, Grandpa!" She smiles and nods her head little. " Hi. Sweetheart! We have been waiting for you. It's been fifteen or more years... I don't expect you to recognize or remember us." He sighs in sadness. " I am sorry!" She mumbles. " No.. Don't be. You had a painful life. We can't blame you for anything.. Please sit next to us." Emma sits next to them. Loving the attention she is getting from someone who calls her family. She has severe trust issues. But they seem safe and comfortable to talk. Soon, her grandparents introduce everyone to her. The young couple is the eldest couple with his spouse and child. The quiet girl who is same as Ashely and her is adopted daughter of oldest uncle. They introduced each of them exclusively so that she doesn't have to worry about any kind of questions. After spending a whole afternoon on this, Emma finally got time to breathe. In front of the restroom, as she sits on the chair to wait, Darla, 25, her cousin walks towards her and sits next to her silently. Emma looks confused since while introducing Darla was like dismissive and silent. So sitting closer to her with no more interaction makes her feel weird about the whole situation. " Sorry for earlier!" Darla takes a beautiful blue rose and puts it on Emma's purse. " From my garden. When I heard about having another cousin who I never met, I wanted to give you that!" She chuckles, " But seeing you made me realize, maybe I should have brought an entire bouquet!" Emma looks at the fresh rose. She smiles, thinking it's been a while someone gave her rose. "It's beautiful. Thank you!" Darla nods and looks above from where they can see the vast sky. " It was me who found your social account." " Oh! How did you get?" " I heard your name from someone. Although as I said I learned about your existence when your grandparents read their Will. Nobody ever mentioned your name before!" " Well. It's normal. I left home for more than a decade!" " I don't think it's because of the time. They never wished to meet you at all!" Emma looks at Darla who is still staring at sky. She frowns narrowly but her lips part away as Darla shows something on her phone screen. " What is it?" " The family group chat. You don't deserve it." Emma's heart seems to be numb enough to digest the messages that she reads. She has been facing the betrayal again and again. So it doesn't matter at all. But how can people be so disgusting? She exhales sharply and laughs a bit. " I am not surprised! But why did you tell me? Your family!" " You are their biological relatives and I am adopted. If they treated you like this. Don't you think how I was treated? Also it doesn't matter. I have moved on. I am here just to meet them for the last time!" Darla said, standing up. " Best of luck. And I suggest you. Take the part of your share. Don't give away. They don't deserve it!" Darla heads to leave but Emma and Darla both of them pause when Ash approaches them. In the whole message, Ash was the only person who kept rejecting the idea of forcing Emma to give away her inheritance to them. " Hey! Darla. Did you apologize to Emma? I didn't appreciate this rudeness!" He hits her head as if she is a kid. Darla puts as reaction but both of them turn towards Emma who is watching them silently. " Emma! Grandpa said to stay over tonight. Are you staying?" He asks, fully expecting her positive response. She pauses for a while.. Knowing she has to face her husband coddling another woman in front of her. She would rather stay here tonight. Darla and Ash give her a positive vibe so..." What about having a drink? Three of us?" Darla and Ash share a glance before grinning... " Gosh! It's been a while since we had a drink. Shall we?" Ash sounds excited. " What about Ashley?" Emma asked. Although Ashley is like a bird. But her actions prove that she seems uncomfortable. Still, she can't become the reason for Ash and Ashley's relationship getting strained. " That's a bad idea. Nobody in our family actually likes to have a drink with her. We'll pass it!" Ash grunts, rolling his eyes. " That's true. We three are fine!" Darla supports Ash. Emma remains as she should be since the decision depends on them. On way to a nearby bar, Emma finally decides to switch on her phone. On way here, Vincent kept messaging and calling her. But now she doesn't want to make him more angry.. She wants an amicable divorce. If she keeps making him angry..He will never agree with her decision. But as soon as she turns the phone on, at least hundreds of messages, uncountable calls make her phone numb for a while. She immediately puts her phone in the purse and looks outside through the car window. She doesn't want to hear the exact words again and again. " Are you married? Emma!" Darla asks, noticing the ring on her finger. " Ah! Yeah." " Really? Congratulations." Emma smiles thanking her. Although her attention goes to Ash who is shaking his head not to talk about it more. She just remains silent. She doesn't want to talk about it. This way or that way.The loud sound of music and people's chit chat isn't her cup of tea. Because of this she always stays away from bars. But what gotten her today is something she can't even understand herself. She wants to call Vincent but somehow she can't do it. She has stopped missing him for good but she feels empty inside. When she was like a wandering soul, he sheltered her with hope and a dream of the future. But now she is turning into that wandering star who has no destination to reach. " Hey! Emma. Let me take a picture of you!" Darla grins, holding her phone. " I don't like -!" Before she could say, Ash pulls her closer, " Let's do it. It's been decades since I took a picture with my sister. Do you have any complaints?" He raises his brow with question. Emma shrugs and laughs little, " I don't remember but shall we?" Ash and Darla laugh. They can see that she is opening up. " Let's take you two first." Emma places the phone near her on the couch before sitting next to As
When she wakes up with a terrible headache, she finds herself in her room, in her bed, lying. With a soft gasp, she sits up, scanning around the room. " Why am I here?" She whispers to herself before looking at her hands and face. She isn't dreaming. Abruptly, she gets off the bed and walks out of the room with a frown on her face. However, she couldn't pass through the doorway when Vincent stands before her with a smile on his face. " Good Morning!" He kisses her lips and looks at her, " How was your sleep last night? Honey!" " Mind explaining why I am here?" She asks, voice Icy. Vincent frowns hearing her cold tone. But instead of responding, he holds her hand and kisses the back of her hand... " Shall we have breakfast?" Emma looks at her husband, and then her hand. She pulls it away from his grip and wipes the knuckles where he kissed. She knows what he is doing and what he is trying to do. " I didn't appreciate you bringing me home. Also I can understand tha
-Emma- I love him. I can trade my life to be with him forever. But - I can't find myself anywhere. As if I just lost the track of my life while chasing after that love that I gave to him. Life has been a full of misfortune event for me. From a broken abusive family, I crawled myself to the world of unknown. With debts and empty stomach, I brought myself where I wanted to show my younger self who cried day after day. Each step of my life was walking on thousands of needles without making a single noise. And learned to live the way I love. However, loving him has become a regret now. But do I actually regret? No... I don't think I loved him less. I loved him with full heart but it's his loss. This time, I am not letting him satisfy with my reaction. He doesn't hold any value right now. I can't lose my sanity over the love that is always been an one-sided. But I don't understand why he is so reluctant to get divorced. So far I know about him, he is honest with his feelings. M
" I don't know what happened. Your husband just came and told us that he was there to take you home." Darla pouts as she speaks through the phone. " I am sorry, Darla." Emma apologizes, imagining how awful it must have been for them. But her eyebrow raises slightly when Darla shakes her head, " No. It's fine. He was polite and respectful. He even asked if we needed a ride or not since we all went pretty much drunk." " I see. Hope Grandma and grandpa didn't mind!" " No. We have already explained everything to them. Also I have explained them that you just met them. They can't force you to be comfortable around them immediately. So take your time." Saying Darla excuses herself since she needs to go to her job. Emma hangs up, heading towards the basement only where her belongings may be there. She works in a big company as a member of IT team. Most of the time, she needs to work on computer. That's why she set that room only for herself. Also, aside from the job that she like
" I will be a bit late today. If Director comes, let me know!" Emma sent a message to her colleague and friend from her company, Leah just to ensure she doesn't have to face director's fury today. She is trying her best to avoid Vincent and Sia who have no sign of remorse. So she doesn't want feel awful at her workplace as well. " What are you talking about? Didn't you send your resignation letter tomorrow? We all were confused about the resignation email that you sent to HR!" Emma who is trying to do her hair, looks at the message that pops up on the screen. First she thought she was reading it wrong. But when she reads it twice, her heart drops.. Her fingers shake as she sits on the stool to look at it properly. " Resignation Letter? Email?" She mumbles, immediately checking her email. And- She freezes on the spot, staring at the email that is writing in cursive front. She hates to use Cursive front. And only person who can do it is--- " I am done preparing breakfast. Come
" Boss! If you don't mind, can I reapply for the position I was? It was a mistake last night!" Emma chews her lips as she requests to reclaim her poison in her department. She has always been so interested in Computer that she took loans for completing her degree and secured the job in a high paying job on first try. She worked hard on giving away the loan, buying an apartment and living the life that she always dreamed of. However, right now, she can't find herself anymore. All the hardwork, tears, depression and hope that she has invested in this job has been gone thanks to someone she loves so much. " Ms. Downey! I am so sorry. As you know the position is so much demanding. Also the new CEO has given this position to someone who has the ability to replace you. I am sincerely sorry about this. I know we have been friends for years. But I am --!" " No! It's fine." She wipes the tears that reaches her chin and ready to disappear into the ground like her all hardwork for ye
-Emma- I thought I was building a beautiful palace with love and trust. But time proved that it's full of lies and fakeness. I thought like fairytale, there is a happy ending in my life. But I forgot that fairytales aren't real. I was stupid to believe that he would understand me. And forgot that I was never been in the position to be understood by him. There is no warmth in the house. There is nothing I can claim as mine. Wherever I look, I realize that how short and temporary the good feelings are. Right now, even those sweetest memories I spent in this house sounds like jokes. All the walls seem like coming to me, to suffocate me. The bracelet he gave me yesterday at the morning is a tracking device. He thought if it's wrapped with a gold and curve with diamonds, I won't know about it. But I am not stupid. The company name on its surface sold its information. Now all I feel like laughing crazily. Never in my life, I thought I would end up in this position. I am always b
At night, Emma grabs her pillow and a blanket. She doesn't want to share a bed with him right now. Vincent is in his study and having a meeting with his clients. Because of Sia, he didn't go to the company. He has been giving all the signs of his priorities. Sia before his work, Sia before his wife and Sia before himself. There is an obsession that works deeply within him. If she is honest with her feelings, she is in pain, writhing in agony. She has to watch and witness her husband's priority who is Sia. Above everything - He must check on Sia. She doesn't believe Sia's all words. That he replaced Sia with her. Because it was a long process before they actually gave in this relationship. The Day Sia met her for the first time, she rejected him immediately. Saying, she wouldn't marry someone who sent someone else to approve. Although the relationship wasn't friendly enough for each other to care about, Vincent who didn't see her in real life, just decided to give up. Afte