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.

streaming down my face, I stared at

to calm down, his eyes gentle and

on, let me show you

in the car and sped away from that sad

night road

driving faster than before. I could feel his urgency, and his fingers tapping the steering wheel showed he was nervous. We finally stopped at a place I

the gilded letters at the entrance gave it away:

looked nothing like

the car lights and rolled down the window, letting the

the steering wheel,

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 alone, worried someone else might get annoyed and

the scene he described

he had a smile on his face and

didn't even dare to ride a bike. So I had to take her. In the summer, she always wore skirts, and I

put it in a jar for

trying to hold back

too, crying and

upon a time, there was an even bigger fool who always lent me his umbrella when it rained, getting soaked himself and

nose was all stuffed up from

voice. "Why are you crying? Do you

tears while laughing,

you tell me you were the Jason I knew? How could I have recognized you

be nice to get to know each other

a few years older than me, 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 really didn't recognize him

me a moment," Jason said and

a tube of ointment in his

he said, gently pinching my

lifted my

in, his gaze

wrong?" I asked, feeling a

"Don't move," he said.

a cool sensation on

neck?" he asked while applying

I understood.

"It's nothing," I said.

people's backs, even though it was true that Faye wanted to strangle

seemed to understand. He put down the ointment, still very close to

just keep tolerating and retreating. Also, you don't have

if he was about

close. The subtle scent of

suddenly became very intimate, and then my phone rang, breaking the

saw the word "Honey" on the screen, Jason took it from

to answer and leaned back

me. I won't be sending her back for

happened

was calm, without a hint of anger,

turned off my phone and then his

made a decision for you. But I think you don't want to go back right now, do

back would just make

a hotel? Your choice," Jason