Emma's Six- New Adventures

Guilt

The following day is a Sunday. I wake up at five in the morning feeling shame and dread. I killed someone, and had they lived, Athena would be an ordinary woman. She'd still be in the world. I look through my wardrobe to find a t-shirt and some jogging bottoms. It's not the usual look I go for, but right now, I don't care. I pull on my trainers and creep out of the house.

I start walking down Old Forest Road to the park. When I get there, the park is empty. I start running across the path. Why did I have to kill that nun? I had no idea that I killed her; I only wanted to steal a little bit of her soul so I could escape. I didn't want to kill her! I'm a monster.

My feet pound against the concrete path, and I feel a stitch in my side, but I try and keep running. What I am running from, I now don't know. My thoughts never leave like I hoped they would. I stumble on something and fall to the ground. I groan and sit up. I look at the ground to see what I tripped up on and discover a blue stone lying there. I pick it up, and it glows in my palm. I put it in my pocket and check my watch; it's only six in the morning, but I need to do something to take my mind off my thoughts. I  begin the walk back home. When I get there, I quietly open the door and slip inside.

'Mr Smith, I need you quickly and quietly.'
'Quickly and quietly,' Mr Smith repeats as he opens himself out, thankfully without the fanfare. I don't want to wake anyone up this early in the morning. 'Hello, Emma. What can I do for you?'
'I found this stone up at the park. Could you scan it for me and work out where it comes from?'
'Certainly,' Mr Smith agrees, and his tray opens up. I place the stone on it, and Mr Smith begins his analysis. 'I would like to give you a detailed analysis, which will take some time.'
'That's fine, Mr Smith,' I assure him. 'I have some work I need to do, anyway.'

I go and sit at my desk as I think of what to do for my verse. Everything I've come up with didn't feel right. Maybe if I'd lived through my life by now, I wouldn't be so worried about it. I'd know what I want my happy ending to be, and I could write about it. But as it is, I have little to work on. Older Emma's happiness seems to stem from her husband, daughter, and now, her sailing career. Maybe my verse should reflect that.

But I also unite the Queens together against Henry. It should reflect that too. How can I reflect on both parts of Emma's life?

It might be impossible, but it's worth a go.

I throw more and more pieces of paper into the bin. 'May I ask what work you're doing?' Mr Smith asks.
'We're supposed to give a historical figure we like a happy ending. We decided to work as a group to do the six wives of Henry VIII again, and I'm struggling with my verse since I know very little about my older self.'
'If you want help with basic facts, I'll happily give you assistance.'
'Thanks, Mr Smith,' I grab a notebook and pen and sit on the stair in front of him. 'How many times has she married so far?'
'Emma Smith-White, now known as Emma Murdoch, has married twice. Her first marriage to Henry the eighth, who she now despises. They had a daughter together, but she disappeared just before her sixth birthday.'
'What was the daughter's name?'
'They named her Ruane, after your parents.'
'Okay. The second marriage must be to William Murdoch.'
'You two get married on the Titanic the day before she hits the iceberg. You also have a child together, Sky Murdoch.'
'I guess due to the timing of Sky's birth, Will never knew about her.' I whisper. My eyes sting with tears, and I try to blink them away.

I think the realisation of what I'll go through is starting to get to me.

Maybe Emma's happy ending is with her second husband and daughter. It may never come to pass, but from what I can tell, she's still stuck there.

But how can I give myself a happy-ish ending after what I did yesterday? I killed someone. I should go to the police and admit what I've done. Yes, the nuns don't remember what happened, but I should own up to what happened.

'I guess you have more on your mind than just your assignment,' Mr Smith says.
'Just analyse the stone, Mr Smith.' I go and sit down at my desk again. How can I do this assignment after what I did?