Echoes

Chapter 14

There was a soft knock at the door, followed by the slow creak as it opened. Emily's head lifted slightly, and through her tear-blurred vision, she saw Sean standing there, his expression a mixture of concern and sadness. It couldn't have been more than twenty minutes since she had called him, but there he was, his presence a beacon of relief in her darkest moment.

As he took in the sight of her, lying on the floor with the letter clutched tightly in her hands, his eyes softened with worry. He quickly moved to her side, carefully lifting her off the cold floor. The pain in her foot had been almost secondary to the emotional devastation she felt, but as he carried her to the bathroom, she winced with each step.

Sean set her gently on the edge of the tub and went to work on her wound. His touch was tender and methodical as he cleaned the cut, his brow furrowed in concentration. The pain was sharp but manageable. "You're going to need stitches," he said, his voice steady, yet filled with concern.

Emily didn't respond, her focus entirely on the letter. She clutched it to her chest, her tears falling freely. The letter was a painful reminder of the betrayal and deception that had been part of Charlie's last months. The heaviness of the truth was almost too much to bear.

Sean finished cleaning her wound and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. His warmth was a stark contrast to the chill of the cabin and the cold reality of the letter. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I should have never left you alone. I shouldn't have turned my back on you."

Emily pulled away slightly and, with trembling hands, handed him the letter. Her eyes were red and puffy, but there was a look of desperate hope in them. "Read it," she said softly, her voice cracking.

Sean took the letter, his expression turning from concern to shock as he read the words. The silence in the room was heavy with unspoken questions

"I called Jason," Emily said, her voice trembling as she clutched the letter. Tears streaked down her face.

Sean's gaze hardened with concern. "What did you tell him?"

"Nothing. I couldn't speak," she replied, her sobs muffled.

"Emily, listen to me carefully," Sean said, his tone urgent. "Do not give Jason this letter. If Charlie was lying, then Jason's involvement might not be what you think."

Emily's eyes wandered, her mind struggling to absorb his words. "Baby, look at me," Sean urged, placing a hand gently on her cheek. "We need to handle this carefully. You're going to tell Jason that we broke up. When you go to the hospital, call him from there. Tell him you were cleaning up the glass from a fight we had, and that you cut your foot. I'll come by later to support you."

Emily nodded, still trembling but understanding his plan.

"Good," Sean continued. "When you call Jason, tell him you're okay and that he can go home. But he won't leave; he'll stay close. You need to act like everything is fine, even though it isn't."

Sean leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. "Okay, go. I'll hide the letter and stage the fight."

With a shaky breath, Emily stood up, her hands gripping her keys. She left for the hospital, her mind racing with the weight of the plan they had just devised.