Eminence (Wattpad Edition)

Note 26 - The Photos That Immortalize Our Bonds

The sun had begun to set, casting a soft glow across the room as everyone got ready to go out for one last walk together. Emanon slipped into a spaghetti-strap dress nearly identical to the one she'd worn the night she first met Warren, only the color was different. Over it, she wore a matching bolero jacket and a wide sunhat with a sheer veil to block out the UV rays. She gave a small twirl, clearly pleased with how she looked.

"Ready?" Warren asked, watching her with a smile.

"Yes! We're checking out more of the shops on the boardwalk this time, right?" she replied.

"Yep. Is there anything you're hoping to find?"

"I want something to remember our time here."

"A souvenir?"

"Maybe... Do you think it'll have enough space for my memories?"

Warren chuckled. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean... will it be enough to help me remember everything that happened on this trip?"

"Well, you might still forget some things," he said, "but I think you'll remember how it made you feel. How much you enjoyed it."

Emanon frowned slightly, clearly wishing for something more lasting.

"Well... Maybe we could find a disposable camera," Warren offered. "They were big about 20 years ago, kind of went out of fashion, but now they're popular again. People like the vintage look."

"A disposable camera?"

"Yeah, to take pictures—like the ones I have framed at home."

Emanon's face lit up. "Yes! Let's find one! I want to fill your walls with photos of all of us, so that the dining room doesn't make you sad anymore."

"Oh, you remember the photos hung there."

"Would that be okay?"

"I think it'd be wonderful. That way, when I miss you, I'll have your face to look at."

"Then it's settled! Let's go!" Emanon beamed and darted out of the room, full of energy.

Warren had, for a brief time during the trip, forgotten about the house waiting for him back home. Sure, Jack stayed with him now, using the guest room. And with Theo likely to drop by more often, the place wouldn't be quiet. Still, it didn't change the fact that Em no longer lived there. Her clothes were gone, her scent fading from the sheets. She was now staying at the hospital permanently.

But photographs, those he could keep. He could fill the emptiness with the still frames of her smile, her warmth, the fleeting moments they shared. Something to hold onto during the after-visiting hours. The thought of capturing dozens, maybe even hundreds, of photos of her filled him with a happiness he couldn't quite describe.

"Warren, are you coming?!" Emanon called from the other room.

"Ah, yes!" he replied, stepping out of the bedroom.

"Hey Warren," Anika greeted as he joined the others. "We were thinking of tracking down some fireworks to light when it gets dark. Sound fun?"

"Yeah, that sounds great," he said. "Emanon and I are also going to look for a disposable camera to take pictures."

"Why?" Jack asked. "We could just use our phones."

"Because Emanon wants to hang them in the dining room," Warren said.

"Oh!" Jack brightened. "That actually sounds really nice. Let's take a bunch!"

"Do you even have space on those walls?" Theo asked.