Two Sides of Us

Chapter 17: Emily

A week later, I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of my blouse for what felt like the hundredth time. My hands trembled slightly, a mix of nerves and anticipation coursing through me. Today was the day—finally, the day I could put this entire mess behind me. Or at least, that's what I hoped.

As I finished getting ready, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and something warm and sweet drifted in from the kitchen. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before heading out to join my roommate, Sydney, and her boyfriend, Paulo.

When I walked into the kitchen, I found the two of them bustling around, setting the table with an impressive spread of pancakes, eggs, and fruit. Paulo was flipping pancakes with an easy smile on his face, while Sydney poured coffee into mugs. They both looked up as I entered, and Sydney immediately flashed me a bright smile.

"Good morning! We made you breakfast," she said, setting down the coffee pot and gesturing to the table. "Thought you could use a good meal before the big day."

I managed a grateful smile, though the knot in my stomach hadn't eased. "Thanks, guys. This looks amazing."

Paulo glanced at me as he stacked the last of the pancakes onto a plate. "You nervous?"

"Yeah, a little," I admitted, sitting down at the table. "I just... I hope he shows up this time. But there's still a chance he might not."

Sydney poured me a cup of coffee and set it in front of me. "If he doesn't, that's on him. But you'll be fine, Emily. We're here for you."

Paulo nodded in agreement. "And we're not letting you go through this alone. Sydney took the day off, and we're both coming with you."

I looked at them both, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. "You don't have to do that."

Sydney shook her head, taking a seat beside me. "Yes, we do. You're our friend, and we're going to be there for you, no matter what."

I took a deep breath, trying to let their support bolster my spirits. "Thank you. Really. I don't know what I'd do without you two."

After breakfast, the three of us headed to the courthouse. The drive was mostly silent, the weight of what was coming hanging in the air between us. I stared out the window, watching the city blur by, my thoughts a jumbled mess. I was ready for this to be over, ready to close this chapter of my life and move on. But there was still that lingering uncertainty—what if he didn't show up again?

When we arrived at the courthouse, we made our way through the security checkpoint and headed toward the courtroom. Just as we were about to enter, I spotted someone familiar standing off to the side, looking around as if searching for someone.

"Izzy?" I called out, my voice tinged with disbelief.

Izzy turned at the sound of my voice, and when she saw me, her face lit up with a smile. "Emily!" She hurried over, and before I knew it, we were hugging tightly, the past two and a half years melting away for a moment.

"I can't believe you're here," I said, pulling back to look at her. "It's been so long. What are you doing here?"

Izzy gave me a sheepish smile. "My cousin asked me to come out for the divorce. It felt only fitting since I was the witness by proxy for the wedding."

Of course, that only made sense. It was my husband's cousin who introduced us in the first place, but for her to come all this way for a divorce? That was odd.

Sydney and Paulo had been watching the exchange quietly, but now Sydney stepped forward. "Emily, do you want to introduce us?"

The question jolted me back to the present, and I blinked, trying to clear my head. "Oh, right. Izzy, this is my roommate, Sydney, and her boyfriend, Paulo."