EMILY
I shook my head, suppressing the tears that I feared would come like a deluge. "Rachel, you don't know what you're saying. I get that you're exhausted and even sad, and that's even somewhat, I don't know, understandable. But you cannot be for real, are you?"
Aunt Lena just stared at Rachel as if wondering if her niece had lost her wits. Instead of saying anything, she said, "I think it's best if we all go to bed, it's late as it is already."
As I entered the room, I was resolute in my decision. At least, in that moment, it was what I fervently desired. Perhaps it wasn't what I needed, but I was convinced it was what I wanted. And so, as I shut the door behind me, I began packing, taking all that I required. I was unstinting in my packing, gathering belongings as though I would nev
