Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 119 That Winter Night

So, I was ten that year.

It was a super late winter night, and my folks still weren't back. I couldn't fight off the sleepiness and crashed early, only to be jolted awake by some frantic knocking.

Half-asleep, I thought it was my parents, so I stumbled to the door. Instead, there were these two tall cops, snowflakes all over them.

I followed them out, shaking like a leaf. I had no clue what was going on, but their serious and kinda sad looks freaked me out.

The crash scene was a total mess. Even though it was crazy late, there were still a bunch of people around.

The truck's front was all smashed up, and the snow was littered with glass shards.

Someone was lying there in the bloody snow.

From a distance, I couldn't make out his face, but I knew that dark blue suit. It was my dad's.

I walked over to him, staring at his bloody face, refusing to believe he was gone.

It was all so brutal, like a bad dream.

I wished it was just a nightmare. I'd wake up in my cozy bed, hear the key in the lock, and run out to see my dad coming in.

Before shaking off the snow, he'd reach into his pocket, all mysterious, and say with a grin, "Emily, guess what Daddy got you?"

In my 26 years, I've seen all kinds of smiles, but my dad's was the warmest.

That winter night, I lost that smile forever.

The cops told me my dad was dead, and my mom was barely hanging on, taken away by an ambulance.

I just stood there, frozen, crying my eyes out.

The crowd was sympathetic. A kind lady handed me some fire paper and matches, saying I should light a candle where my dad passed to remember him. There was a kapok tree by the road. I lit the candle under it and accidentally burned my hand. The pain was so real, reminding me it wasn't a dream. Dad was gone, really gone, never coming back.

That winter night was a harsh line, ending all my happiness.

When dawn broke, I had to grow up overnight, and my life's script got totally rewritten.

This kapok tree was the same one from back then.

Now, everything's changed, but thinking about that night still hurt like hell.

I ran my hand over the now much thicker trunk and said, "My dad had his accident right here. I lit a candle for him under this tree to say goodbye." "Emily."

Jason's voice came from behind me, soft and choked up.

"I've had it rough all these years, probably 'cause I didn't have my dad around. I got bullied a lot. Dad would probably think I'm a total loser."

I hugged the tree, and all the bitterness just poured out. I couldn't hold it in and started bawling.

"I'm no better off than Faye. I have nothing, absolutely nothing."

"Who says you have nothing?" Jason suddenly grabbed my arm, all worked up.

down my face, I stared

tried to calm down, his

on, let me

the car and sped away

night road

than before. I could feel his urgency, and his fingers tapping the steering wheel showed he was

entrance gave

like it

rolled down the

and the other on the steering wheel, looking

her pencil. Turns out, her deskmate had it, but she didn't say anything. She cried all the way home, and it was super annoying, like a broken record. I hated walking with her 'cause it felt like everyone thought I was the bully. But I couldn't leave her

looked at him, and the scene he described started to come

it was annoying, but he had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his

I had to take her. In the summer, she always wore skirts, and I was always worried her skirt would

little girl was super sentimental. I caught a butterfly and put it in a jar for her. When the butterfly died, she was sad

lightly, trying to hold back

and laughing at

getting soaked himself and getting chewed out at home." "That

all stuffed up from crying, and my

pulled out a tissue to wipe my tears and softened his voice. "Why are you crying? Do you hate me that much?

him, wiping my tears while laughing, and pretended to glare at

job, why didn't you tell me you were the Jason I knew? How

would be nice to get to know each

used to live in Broadway Alley. We went to and from school together every day until he suddenly transferred schools in 8th grade. After his family moved away from Broadway Alley, I never saw him again. Guys change a lot as they grow up, and I

Jason said and suddenly got

a while, he returned with a

your head," he said, gently pinching my

lifted my head,

leaned in, his gaze falling

asked, feeling a

"Don't move," he said.

cool sensation on

neck?" he

I understood.

"It's nothing," I said.

though it was true that Faye wanted

to understand. He put down

just keep tolerating and

moving slightly as if

The subtle scent of his cologne was very

quiet space suddenly became very intimate, and then my

phone, and just as I saw the word "Honey" on the screen, Jason took it from

answer and leaned back in his seat, tilting his

with me. I won't be sending her back for now. You should deal

processed what had happened by

his tone was calm, without a hint of anger, but very

off my phone and then

think you don't want to

was right. Going back would just make things

a hotel? Your