Chapter 313

He holds out his hand and I take it, shaking.

His grip is firm and cool, and there’s something almost comforting about it.

“I’m Emily,” I tell him in return.

His smile deepens. “That’s a pretty name.”

I laugh at this.

Ronan might be too charming for his own good.

“I think it’s pretty basic myself, but you’re welcome to your opinion.”

He gives a quick, friendly laugh.

“So, Emily, what has you out here looking so down on a day like today?”

I take a slow breath, working out how I can explain without sounding crazy.

“Something bad happened to me, something traumatizing,” I begin, choosing my words carefully. “Something that went on for a long time. I finally got out just recently, and now my family are treating me like I’m fragile and broken. Maybe because I am.

7

But I don’t want to be. And I can’t stay with my family, I can see that. It’s just not going to work. They’ll hate me when the realize the truth of everything that happened to me. Except I don’t know what to do, and don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Ronan nods, listening with sympathy and understanding.

And I realize it’s something no one has bothered to do since I got home.

They all just assume they know what happened to me, and what they should do about it.

did have that moment with Axel earlier…

wasn’t real..

anyone–would be first in line to kill me if or

brave. You survived that bad thing you went through. And maybe these might seem like

know I’m definitely different, but I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to consider that I might be stronger for what happened

to me.

right. Just not in the way

www

torture, but I can do things now that I couldn’t

makes it all

ever go through that, because I can’t exactly

greater danger

maybe there are benefits to the new me, if I decide to look at it from a

can sense that you’re special, Emily,” Ronan continues in a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can

how much this stranger has actually seen me- in a

they just

drama–and I was gone for ten years, so

I don’t mean in a spiteful way, I just mean

kind of way.

loss if they can’t see any of that. You’re strong. You’ve proven that to yourself. You don’t need to prove it to anyone

I’m speechless.

what to say, but I’m deeply touched by

say to him, emotion catching

he gets to

these trails a few times a week,” he says. “Maybe I’ll see you

I hope I do see

feet, and we stand there looking

forward and hug

hugs

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