Mother's True Love.

The Decision.

Emily sat on her bed, her heart racing as she stared at her phone. The screen lit up with a message from Alex, displaying a number that made her stomach churn with anxiety. Nathan Jacobs' number. It felt surreal, like holding a piece of a puzzle she wasn't sure she wanted to complete.

After a few moments of silence, she tapped her fingers nervously against the screen, her mind swirling with possibilities. What if contacting him scared him off? What if he didn't want to talk? The thought made her stomach drop.

Taking a deep breath, she texted back, her fingers moving swiftly across the keys. "Hey, Alex. What if we don't contact him directly? What if we trace down the number instead?"

She waited, the silence in her room amplifying her doubts. What if they never found him? What if Nathan was just a ghost, slipping through their fingers like sand?

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with Alex's response. "I like that idea. We can gather intel without putting ourselves out there too soon. It's smarter."

Emily felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had a plan, something concrete to hold onto amid the chaos. But she knew they couldn't do this alone; they needed Sarah's involvement too. After all, she had memories they could piece together.

Picking up her phone again, she dialed Sarah's number, pacing the small confines of her room. It rang twice before Sarah picked up, her voice bright but cautious. "Hey, Em! What's up?"

"Hey, I have something important to discuss," Emily said, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest. "I think we should trace Nathan's number instead of contacting him directly. I'm scared that reaching out might scare him off."

There was a brief pause on the other end. "That makes sense. What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to come with Alex and me when we try to track him down," Emily replied, feeling more determined with each passing second. "We'll need all the support we can get. This could get tricky."

"Okay, I'm in," Sarah said without hesitation. "Just tell me when and where, and I'll be there."

Emily felt a sense of relief wash over her. "Thanks, Sarah. I know this is a lot to ask, but it means a lot to me."

"No problem. I want to help Jules too," Sarah said, her voice softer now. "I'll do whatever it takes."

After they hung up, Emily sank back onto her bed, her mind racing with the implications of what they were about to do. They were venturing into the unknown, tracking down someone who could be tied to Jules' death. The gravity of the situation pressed heavily on her chest, but she knew there was no turning back now.

With each passing minute, her resolve strengthened. They had to uncover the truth, not just for Jules, but for themselves. For every unanswered question, every lingering doubt.

Emily picked up her phone again and stared at Nathan's number, the unknown waiting for her. She would find him. She would confront him. And this time, she wouldn't be alone.