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,

to calm down, his eyes gentle and full

on, let me show you

got back in the car and sped

night road

than before. I could feel his urgency, and his fingers tapping

the gilded letters at the entrance gave it away: Sunshine Elementary School,

like

and rolled down the window, letting the cold air

the other on the steering wheel, looking at the school gate with

way home, and it was super annoying, like a broken record. I hated walking with her 'cause

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

smile on his face and

even dare to ride a bike. So I had to take her. In the summer, she always wore skirts, and I was always worried her skirt would

for her. When the butterfly died, she was sad for ages

trying to hold back

too, crying and laughing

was an even bigger fool who always lent me his umbrella when it rained, getting soaked himself and getting chewed out

from crying, and my

my tears and softened his voice. "Why are you crying? Do you hate

tissue from him, wiping my tears while laughing, and

didn't you tell me you were the Jason I knew? How could I have recognized you

thought it would be nice to get to know each other

in 8th grade. After his family moved away from Broadway Alley, I never saw him again. Guys change a lot as they grow

moment," Jason said and

he returned with a tube of ointment

he said, gently

lifted my

his gaze falling on my

asked, feeling a bit

"Don't move," he said.

a cool sensation on my

your neck?" he

I understood.

"It's nothing," I said.

like talking behind people's backs, even though it was true that Faye

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

sometimes you can't just keep tolerating and retreating. Also,

Adam's apple moving slightly as if he was about to

was too close. The subtle scent of his

and then my phone

as I saw the word "Honey" on the

and leaned back in his seat,

won't be sending her back for now.

had happened by the time

without a hint of anger, but very decisive,

my phone

you. But I think you don't want to go back

would just make things worse

or a hotel? Your choice,"