An Encounter for a Lifetime

Chapter 14

Nathaniel's heart raced as he sped home, his mind consumed with worry for Emily. The ten-minute drive felt like an eternity, with each passing second fueling his anxiety. He knew that Emily's absence could only mean one thing: her father interfering again. Despite his urge to rush to her side, past experiences had taught him that her father was as stubborn as a mule. The knowledge that her father harbored a deep-seated hatred for him was the root of the problem. Nathaniel returned the sentiment. There had been an unspoken animosity between them, fueled by months of resentment and bitterness.

As he pulled into his driveway, he restlessly parked the car. The sight of Emily sitting on the couch curled into herself shattered his heart. Gone was the sparkle in her eyes, replaced by sadness. Without a word, Nathaniel embraced her, his arms offering what comfort they could amidst the storm of emotions raging in her. Emily's tears flowed silently in their expression of pain. As they embraced each other, Nathaniel vowed to be her rock.

What troubled Nathaniel more than the disdain felt for Emily's father was how his presence cast a dark shadow over their relationship. He hated how her father's words and actions wounded her, leaving scars that ran deep beneath the surface. And most of all, he hated himself for being unable to protect her from the pain inflicted on her. In moments like these, Nathaniel couldn't help but turn inward, fighting with a familiar sense of guilt that weighed heavily on his shoulders whenever Emily endured her father's wrath. As much as he entertained the endless "what ifs." Nathaniel ultimately knew that the blame lay with Emily's father. He found himself in a constant loop of self-blame, wondering if perhaps they hadn't crossed paths, she wouldn't have been subjected to the pain inflicted upon her or Emily going through this. But no amount of hypothetical scenarios could erase the reality that her father's actions were unforgivable. He couldn't change the past nor undo the harm, but Nathaniel vowed to change the present.

"Were you with Kanan?" Emily asked, her voice shaking. Nathaniel responded with a soft hmm. "Too bad I interrupted your date."

"We're cousins. You're my only real family. I'd run to you in a heartbeat," Nathaniel assured her, his voice filled with sincerity. It was the text containing the code word "Birds." that had Nathaniel running. It was a code they used in times of urgent need.

"He'd probably be jealous if he heard you say that," Emily remarked with a faint chuckle, a glimmer of light in the moment.

"Kanan would understand," Nathaniel replied. It was clear that Kanan was family-oriented. How he valued the people in his life and the close bonds he shared with them, something Nathaniel admired about him. "And I'd do the same for him."

Emily pulled away, wiping her tears, a small smile presenting itself. Nathaniel caught sight of her broken phone screen lying beside her. He called and texted her more times than he could count. "What happened?" He finally asked, filled with concern.

She looked away, reluctant to delve into the details. "We had an agrument," Emily replied with a sigh. Nathaniel understood what that meant. It had been so long since it happened, and it was his mistake for taking their recent carefree demeanor lightly. "Should we run away?" She suddenly asked. "This family doesn't need us, and we don't need them. You know, protect our inner peace."

Nathaniel's thoughts drifted to their strained relationship. There was little contact-no visits, no phone calls. He rarely, if ever, interacts with his family. The recent birthday party was only because of his mother's insistence. And even then, all he did was argue with his brother and conversed with his mother on a topic they had discussed, and he denied it multiple times. His father remained silent, lacking the audacity to acknowledge his presence, while the rest of the family acted like he wasn't there. Despite the physical distance he created, they still had an emotional hold bound to him he struggled to sever. For Emily, the situation was even more precarious. Being in her teenage years and beholden by her parent's authority, she felt trapped in a cycle of control and manipulation. Nathaniel knew that as much as she tried to appear strong, there were moments of vulnerability when her facade cracked, revealing the depth of her struggles.