Redemption of love

r hands still trembling slightly from the weight of Daniel's words. Her heart pounded in her chest, and yet, in a strange way,

ort and understanding, were now mirrors of judgment and disappointment. And fo

ve a whisper. "I've been running. From you. Fro

ression unreadable. "You've always been running, Emma. Fro

acking slightly. "I made so many

ruin everything, Emma. But you su

he secrets she had kept-how could she ever make that right? How could she even begin to explain the betrayal, the shame, the

r voice breaking. "I don't know how to fix

, leaning in slightly. "You start by being honest. With yourself.

ing pressing down on her like a vice. "I don't know if David will forgive me," she whispe

how you really feel. If you want any chance of fixing this-of fi

unfairness of it all. But there was no use. She had dug herself into thi

expect you to forgive me. But I have to tell him. I have to tell Ma

up slowly, pushing his chair back. "I can

of his words. This was her res

legs unsteady. "Wait," she called out, her voi

and heavy. Emma felt a pang of regret, but also something else-something deeper. Sh

"You need to go back to your life, Daniel. I can't keep doi

e you Emma, even though this was just a phase for you, it was real for me.David is my best friend bu

that, he

ng. What had just happened? Had she made the r

. Lily stood there, her eyes wide with concern. She had been l

uiet but filled with fear, "i

ily to hear any of that. But there was no g

isper. "It's not okay. But I promise, I'm going to make

ped her small arms around Emma. "I don't underst

dn't deserve that trust-not after everything she had done. But it was there, an unspoken bond betw

ad no more time for weakness. She had a choice to make-and it wasn't just f

again, her voice firmer this tim

know the full weight of what was coming. But Emma did. And she knew that the road ahe

ng. She wasn't running anymore. For the first time in years, she was stand

ady to face wha