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We move into a comfortable conversation until sleep eventually takes Emily. Her soft snores fill the silence in the room and a content sigh escapes my lips.
Her scent billows around me and I breathe as much of it in as humanly possible.
I’m not sure how long I lay staring up at the darkened ceiling soaking in the warmth of Emily’s presence until I finally drift off to sleep.
I wake up to Emily’s soft whimpers. Peering down, her face is twisted in pain, and she kicks her feet as though she’s running.
“Em?” I whisper, pulling my body away from her.
A thin layer of sweat coats her forehead and a few strands of her hair stick to her skin, and small pants burst through her slightly ajar lips.
I push the sweaty strands away from her face and she begins to wake. Her eyes flutter open and gradually focus on my face.
“Everythin’ okay?”
I know it’s a stupid fecking question because, clearly, it’s not but I don’t know what else to say at this hour of the night.
She blinks her fatigue away and then rises onto her elbow.
“Do you think we can go for a walk?” she whispers.
“We can do anything you want, Emily.”
The two of us quickly put on our shoes and Emily grabs a mustard-colored cardigan.
We walk hand-in-hand along one of the many paths that cut through the property. The moonlight silhouettes the many guards that patrol the estate. I dip my chin and Emily smiles at each one we pass.
“I still hear them.” She whispers, keeping her eyes trained forward.
“Who?”
She slows to a stop, and I turn to face her. She studies my face with slightly pinched brows and gives me a forced smile.
“Their cries.” She scoffs humorlessly. “Despite seeing them and knowing they’re at peace, their cries echo in my head like a broken record.”
My eyes soften and I softly caress her cheek with the back of my fingers. She leans into my touch and smiles sadly.
“Do you think they’ll ever go away?” her voice is so quiet; I nearly miss her question.
I gently shake my head. “I don’t know, Em. I really don’t.”
She nods and nibbles on her bottom lip. Lifting my hand, I use my thumb to pull it from her teeth.
“What if they never stop?”
“We’ll figure it out. Together.” I stare into her eyes so she can see the sincerity in those words.
She starts to shake her head, but I grip the back of her neck and pull her forehead to mine.
“Look at me, Em,” I say when she closes her eyes.
They pinch tighter and I give her neck a reassuring squeeze.
“Look at me.” I demand softly and she finally opens her eyes. The blue in them is so deep from the tears that have started to fill her eyes but she keeps her gaze on mine.
“I’m not going anywhere, Emily. Not this time. Not ever.”
“What if it becomes too much? What if you realize that I’m no longer worth the trouble?” Her lip quivers.
