Chapter 26

Emilia

I woke early this morning, around five, I tried to fall back asleep after taking some medicine to help the stinging sensation I can feel on my face. It was pointless, trying to fall back asleep. My body wouldn't let me so I laid quietly, staring at the dark shadows in my room until the the sun started to creep through my cheap blinds. On a sigh I head to the kitchen and make myself a hot chocolate, the ultimate comfort beverage, before plopping myself down on the couch. Flipping through the channels I land on Hallmark who have already started playing Christmas movies, one of my favorites.

I've always loved Christmas, something about the whole season brings me so much joy. I think it's the comfort of it all. In another life I have a family who decorates the tree the day after Thanksgiving while playing Christmas music, even better if we go out and get a real tree. Then all of December would be filled with baking, shopping for loved ones, get-togethers and movie marathons. I used to have some semblance of that when my grandparents were alive but it's been seven years since they passed and all the Christmas traditions fell to the wayside. I let myself get lost in the daydream while I watch a movie of a small town baker fall in love.

I jolt awake to the sound of banging on the door. A little disoriented I sit up and examine my surroundings, trying to remember where I am. The coffee mug, the blanket, the tv now playing a different cheesy movie. Right, I'm at my apartment, I must've fallen asleep after drinking my hot cocoa. Makes sense considering I didn't sleep much last night.

The banging on the door is back. I sigh, pushing myself off the couch and shuffling to the door with the blanket wrapped around my body. It's freezing in here, why is it so cold? The knocking on the door continues and I grumble to myself, geez, I'm coming. Who would be here anyways? Someone is clearly at the wrong door.

Not even bothering to check the peephole, dumb idea, I yank open the door ready to tell whoever is knocking to go away. However the words die in my mouth as the door opens and in front of me is the man with eyes I'd recognize anywhere.

∞∞∞

Liam

I've been knocking on Emilia's door for over five minutes, I started with a soft knock, I didn't want to startle her but after a few minutes of no answer I resorted to hitting the door harder and harder until I was practically banging it down. In hindsight, she could have been asleep but after last night my anxiety was too high to leave. I needed to lay my eyes on her and make sure she is alive and well.

The door is yanked open as I'm about to knock again and there she stands. Wrapped up in a blanket and also wearing my sweatshirt and sweatpants. She's a dream. Her blue eyes go wide as they lock on mine and that's when I see it. The blue and purple hues coloring her cheek. Any plan to confess my feelings right here and now goes out the window, there"s a more pressing matter at hand. Who did this to her? Is this why she came home early? I drop the bag in my hand and pull her to me. I wrap my arms around her middle, she stills just for a moment, but then wraps her arms around my neck and buries her face in my neck. We're both quiet in the embrace for a minute and then I hear it, her quiet sniffles. I pull back slightly to see her face but she won't unbury it from my chest.

Putting my hands under her thighs I lift her with ease and she instinctively wraps her legs around my waist. I shuffle us further inside, kicking the bag of food I brought with me into the kitchen and the door closed behind me. I maneuver us through the space, bringing Emilia and myself over to the couch. Gently, I set Emilia down in the middle of the couch, before toeing off my shoes, and then claiming the spot next to her.

"I'm sorry." She sniffles before furiously wiping under her eyes. That's when I see the second worst sight, the bruising around her wrist. I gently grab her hands, taking hold of them and then angling my body to face her.

"Don't be sorry. What happened?" I try to keep my voice calm and even. The opposite of how I feel right now. I've never been a violent person but I want to kill whoever did this to her. It's the second time I've seen her with a bruised wrist and the third time she could have been seriously hurt. Not being able to be there for her and protect her is killing me inside.

"It's nothing.."

"Emilia."

"My mom's boyfriend, Arthur. He um, I've never liked him but he's never done this before." She gestures to her face. "I told him to leave, he was drunk. Him and my mom almost always are." Shaking her head she lets out a humorless laugh.

"He's hurt my mom before, a few times. They break up then get back together. It's toxic. Anyways, I'm sorry for all the crying, usually I can keep it together better than this."

"Baby, don't be sorry for crying." The term slips easily from my mouth for the second time. I make a mental note that it doesn't make her shy away from me. Small wins. "You don't have to keep it together in front of me." That earns me a soft smile from her sweet lips. "Is this why you don't talk about your parents much?"

The soft smile I earned quickly slips off her face, damn. She looks down at her hands, pulling at her fingers for what feels like forever. I knew she probably didn't want to talk about it but I just wish for her to trust me enough to open up. I know a little about her mom's past but she never said if things had changed for her.

"Yeah, I mean my mom is definitely not winning any mother of the year awards."

"What about your dad?"

Emi shrugs, "beats me." She finally looks up meeting my eyes,."My mom had me when she was eighteen. She had just graduated high school and took a road trip with her friends, they went down the east coast and I think she slept with a different guy in every city. Who knows who my dad really even is."

"Oh baby. I'm so sorry." I reach out to catch one of the tears falling from her eyes. Her sobbing has stopped but the tears are still silently streaming down her face.

"It's okay. I had my grandma and grandpa when I was growing up. They took the best care of me. Grandpa died when I was thirteen and Grandma just six months later. I think she died of a broken heart. They were so in love." Emilia's eyes glisten, I can see the happiness hidden behind them while talking about her grandparents.

"Tell me about them."

Emilia's smile brightens and she lets out a small laugh. There she is, my girl. "They were the kindest people you'd ever meet. They rescued every stray animal and then they rescued me from their own daughter. Grandpa brought home flowers for Grandma every single Monday, purple tulips were her favorites. He started doing it when they were just dating and continued it up until the day he died. He said he loved the way her face lit up with each bouquet because that's how he felt inside every time he saw her. Their love was beautiful. They made me believe in true love."

I'm glad to hear her say that. That her grandparents showed her what a healthy relationship looks like. The fact that she still believes in love shows the kind of person she is. Even when faced with darkness she looks towards the light.

"They sound amazing."

"They were." She nods just as the tv starts playing a Christmas jingle. She laughs, "you know, we had this tradition. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving we would decorate the tree and watch Christmas movies all day. We loved to celebrate the season fully." There's a big smile back on her face now, eyes lit up with memories.

"Wow, that's exactly how my mom feels about seasons, specifically this one." I let out a light laugh.

"She sounds like a smart woman."

"She is. Oh and she had me bring some stuff." I get up to retrieve the bag I kicked into the kitchen. I bring over the muffins my mom had made this morning, setting them on the small coffee table.

"You told your mom about me?" Emilia looks shocked. If only she knew but after this emotional morning I think I better wait on confessing my feelings. I don't want to throw too much at her.

"Of course. Now fuel up we have a big day ahead."

Emilia raises her eyebrows at me, mid muffin bite. "Mmm." She moans into the muffin, my pants instantly get a little tighter. Not the time. I strategically pull a pillow onto my lap, acting like it's my plate. "What do you mean big day?"

"Sounds like we have a tree to decorate."