After Katie left, I led Emma toward the bed. She moved quietly, her steps hesitant. Once she sat down, I turned and went back to close the door, making sure we had privacy.
I needed to hear everything without interruption, and this conversation couldn’t wait any longer.
When I returned, I sat down beside her, feeling the distance between us despite our proximity. There were so many unspoken things, so many secrets weighing on us.
I looked at her, searching her face for something, but she kept her gaze down, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the bedspread.
“Emma,” I started, my voice low. “These past few months… without you… haven’t been easy. If I said otherwise, I’d be lying.”
She didn’t respond immediately, her shoulders tensing at my words. I could sense the emotional wal
