The planets bend between us

Chapter 33

The air was cold but felt good on her skin. She felt the snow bite her skin. It was chilling but welcoming. She didn't know exactly where she was walking. She felt her legs drift in a direction.

She finally looked up. She was standing in front of a church. Much like the one she went to when she lived in Rome. She pulled out the picture from her pocket. The kids in that picture would look happy to anyone else who saw it. It was only Emily who knew the kids in the picture were lost. Lost and empty and were just trying to be loved, but were used to being let down. She saw the red drip onto the picture. She wiped her nose, feeling the blood stain her skin.

And then like it was yesterday, she remembered going inside the church in Rome for the first time.

She walked inside and felt the warmth. Comfort. Down the aisle, she felt peace. She longed for it. She felt someone tug her sweater and she turned around.

He was smiling shyly. "Hey, Emily, right? Your mom's the ambassador?"

Emily wasn't used to this. The recognition. She saw the look of hope in someone's eyes, and she was in awe of it. "Yeah, yeah. I'm Emily. You're Matthew, right?"

He nodded sheepishly. "I was wondering if you wanted to sit with us. If- if you don't already have someone to sit with."

She didn't know what to say. She had never been invited like this before. It was such a simple question, but it meant so much to her. "Yeah, yeah. Sure."

Matthew grinned and led her to the back where another boy was sitting. He had his feet up on top of the row in front of theirs. He looked so careless and free. The first thought that Emily had about him was that she was sure her mother would have hated him.

He looked at them as they took a seat next to him. He looked at her from head to toe. He charismatically smiled and said, "Damn, Matt. How the fuck did you get a girl to sit with you?"

"Shut it, John," Matthew told him, his face becoming red. "Emily's new and I thought she could use someone to sit with."

John laughed and replied, "Well, she chose well. Cooley. John Cooley. You'll be fine if you hang out with me. Matthew... eh, not so much. I just felt bad for the little guy, ya know?"

Emily could tell that he was an asshole. Everything about him screamed douche. And somehow, that made her want to know him that much more. "Nah," She said confidently. "I think he's the one that feels bad for you. Prentiss. Emily Prentiss."

John stared at her for a second, as if trying to figure out her deal. He then let out a breathy chuckle. He grabbed Matthew's shoulder and shook it playfully. "You got us a good one, Mattie. She'll do. She'll definitely do."

She shivered fiercely, feeling the cold finally pull her under. She started walking again. This time, she felt like she had no control. She didn't know where her feet her taking her. She felt her body lose feeling. She didn't know if it was because of the freezing snow or because of her.

She stopped in front of a familiar building. She looked up. This was where she wanted to be.