Beneath the mistletoe

chapter 15

The sterile beeping of a heart monitor was the first sound Emily registered as she floated into consciousness. Her body felt heavy, as though gravity had doubled its pull. A sharp ache radiated from her side, but it was dulled by the cocktail of painkillers coursing through her veins. Slowly, she opened her eyes to the dim hospital room, her vision blurring before sharpening into focus.

Her mom, Karen, sat by her bedside, her face a mix of relief and worry. Lines of exhaustion etched her features, and her hand was clasped tightly around Emily's.

"You're awake," Karen said, her voice thick with emotion. She reached up to brush a strand of hair from Emily’s forehead, her fingers trembling slightly. "Thank God."

Emily attempted a weak smile, but it quickly morphed into a grimace as pain shot through her ribs. She felt the bandages wrapped around her torso, a stark reminder of how far things had gone.

"What a way to celebrate the New Year," Emily murmured hoarsely, her voice raspy from disuse. "A new life, indeed."

Karen’s lips trembled, and she leaned forward to press a kiss to Emily’s hand. “Don’t joke about this,” she said, her voice breaking. “You scared me half to death. When I got the call… I thought I was going to lose you.”

Emily’s chest tightened at the raw emotion in her mother’s voice. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes. “I didn’t mean for things to go this far.”

Karen sat back, her expression a mix of anger and love. “Why didn’t you tell me what you were planning? Why didn’t you let us help you?”

Emily sighed, wincing as the movement sent a ripple of pain through her ribs. “I didn’t want to drag anyone else into it,” she admitted. “This was my fight, and I thought I could handle it.”

Karen shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “You don’t have to do everything alone, Emily. You have a family that loves you. We would have done anything to help you anything to keep you safe.”

Emily looked away, guilt settling heavily in her chest. She had always prided herself on her independence, but she hadn’t realized how much it had cost her and her loved ones.

Over the next few hours, the details of the confrontation came flooding back to her.

Her plan had been simple, or so she thought. She had known Julian couldn’t resist showing off in public, and she had used that to her advantage, choosing a crowded restaurant for their meeting. She’d provoked him carefully, bringing up the emails and evidence of his bribery, challenging his ego in front of an audience.

But she hadn’t expected him to lose control so completely.

The memory of his hand striking her across the face was vivid, the shock of the blow reverberating through her body even now.

Gasps from the onlookers had echoed around the restaurant when he caused the scene, and the humiliation on Julian’s face had turned into pure rage. When she had tried to leave, he had grabbed her arm with enough force to bruise, shoving her against a table. It was only thanks to the intervention of a bystander that she had escaped further harm but she did not know he's take it this far following her home, breaking her ribs.

The police had managed to find Julian and have him arrested the witnesses from the restaurant and documented past abuses was enough to put him behind bars.

"At least I'm alive," Emily thought as she recounted the events to herself, the small silver lining in an otherwise dark situation.

The next few days were a blur of pain management, physical therapy consultations, and visits from her family. Mama Ruby was a constant presence, offering words of encouragement and reminding Emily of her strength. Xander stopped by with Charlotte, his protective side on full display as he reassured Emily that Julian would pay for what he’d done.

But it was Luca’s visit that surprised her the most.

He showed up on the second evening, a bouquet of wildflowers in hand and a hesitant smile on his face. Karen had just stepped out to grab coffee, leaving Emily alone in the quiet room. She hadn't talked to him since she left the trip without saying goodbye.

“Hey,” Luca said softly, stepping inside. “I hope it’s okay that I came.”

Emily blinked, caught off guard. “Luca… what are you doing here?”

He shrugged, placing the flowers on the table beside her bed. “Xander told me what happened. I just… I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

His concern was genuine, and Emily felt a lump form in her throat. “I’ve been better,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “But I’m alive, so… that’s something.”

Luca pulled a chair closer to the bed, his gaze steady. “It’s more than something. What you did took guts, Emily. Most people wouldn’t have been able to stand up to someone like Julian.”

Emily looked away, tears threatening to spill over. “I don’t feel brave,” she whispered. “I feel… broken.”

Luca reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing his hand gently over hers. “You’re not broken,” he said firmly. “You’re healing. And healing takes time.”

His words struck a chord, and Emily felt a tear slip down her cheek. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the weight of the past few days hanging between them. Luca’s presence was calming, a stark contrast to the chaos that had surrounded her recently.

Before he left, Luca turned to her, his expression serious. “If you ever need anything, anything at all you call me, okay? I mean it, Emily.”

She nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. “I will. Thank you, Luca.” The fact the he didn't bring up anything from the trip was a confirmation to her that in fact Lilly was successful.

As the days turned into weeks, Emily slowly began to regain her strength. Physical therapy sessions were grueling, but they gave her a sense of purpose. Her family rallied around her, their support unwavering.

Julian remained in police custody, facing charges of assault and witness intimidation. The evidence Emily had collected, combined with the testimony of witnesses from the restaurant , had sealed his fate. Her lawyer assured her that the divorce would be finalized soon, and Emily felt a glimmer of hope for the future.

But healing wasn’t just physical, it was emotional, too.

One evening, as Emily sat in the living room sketching absentmindedly, Karen joined her on the couch.

“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” her mom asked gently, her eyes filled with concern.

Emily set her sketchpad aside, sighing. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Some days, I feel okay. Other days, it feels like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.”

Karen nodded, her expression empathetic. “That’s normal, Emily. What you went through—it’s going to take time to process.”

“I just… I keep replaying everything in my head,” Emily said, her voice cracking. “All the red flags I ignored, all the times I convinced myself that things would get better. I can’t stop wondering how I let it get this far.”

Karen reached over, taking Emily’s hands in hers. “You loved him,” she said simply. “You wanted to believe in him, to believe that he could change. That’s not a weakness, Emily—it’s a sign of how big your heart is.”

Emily’s eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into her mom’s embrace, letting herself be held.

“You’re not that girl anymore,” Karen continued, her voice steady. “You’ve grown so much, Emily. You’re stronger than you realize. And no matter how long it takes, we’ll be here to help you heal.”

With the New Year season lingering , Emily found herself reflecting on her journey. It hadn’t been easy, and she knew the road ahead would still be challenging.

She wasn’t defined by her past anymore. She was free to create her own future, one brushstroke at a time.

And that was a New Year’s resolution she intended to keep.