Empty Promises

t w e n t y - t w o

As Emily lied there still, she was having a war with herself. 

"I love you." He whispered to me as he wrapped me in his arms. I never wanted to leave him, he was my sanctuary. 

He kissed my forehead and I sighed in content.

"I love you too Carter." I mumbled into his chest but as soon as I said his name, I realized that this wasn't right.

His arms disappeared and I opened my eyes, I was alone. It was pitch black and I couldn't see anything.

"Hello?" I yelled out hoping for someone to answer. I walked around aimlessly for what seemed like forever. 

"Emily." I turned around to face the person who called me. "Grams." I hugged her, of course. 

"Am I dead?" Grams shook her head, "No, you're in between life and death." I was confused, what's going on?

"What are you doing here?" Grams smiled warmly at me. "I'm here to show you another life you could have. If you wish."

» × «

Imagine if Carter didn't cheat on you, night at the party. This is what really happened.

I watched as I walked up the stairs, to find Carter, as I turned the corner I gasped and covered my mouth. There was Kayla, the girl I considered my best friend.

She pushed Carter up against the wall and kissed him, my eyes were teary as I looked over the corner. 

"I don't want to see this." I whispered to my Grams. "You must."

It broke my heart to see this happen all over again, as the other me looked over the corner she saw Carter push Kayla away.

"What are you doing? Emily is your best friend!" He yelled at her, "I love you." It was obvious Kayla was drunk. "I love Emily." He whispered to her. 

Kayla nodded and ran off, other me decided to make her appearance. "I love you too." Carter looked shocked to see her. "Em I-" 

Before he could finish, other me, crashed her lips to his before pulling him into an empty room. "I gave him my virginity?!" I shouted at my Grams.

She smiled, "You love him as he loved you." I huffed and crossed my arms, "But that's not what happened." I pointed out.

"But it could. If you so wish it." She walked down the hallway, the direction Kayla went. "Come on." Reluctantly I followed.

» × «

Now a week later, you never went to see Gramps. You spent day and night with Carter over the summer and when school started you heard the news.

We were at school, it was the first day. Something felt wrong, didn't I meet someone?

"Did you hear?" Syl asked as she came up to the other me, while she was at my locker. "Hear what?" Syl gave me a small smile. "It's Kayla."

"What happened?" I didn't want to hear, "Grams." She hushed me and told me to listen. "She committed suicide a week after Toby's party."

That was the name of the guys party, that Carter cheated on me at.

"But she didn't kill herself!" I shouted at Grams. "Think about it, Emily. This is the life you could have." What is she not telling me?

"I want my life though. I want ..." I couldn't finish my sentence because I didn't know who or what I wanted.

What was I going to say. "Come on." She grabbed my hand and walked into another room, leading me somewhere else.

» × «

Now we move past high school, and years later you're still with Carter.

"Mommy!" I gasped as a little girl came running towards the other me. "Hello princess." I shook my head at the scene in front of me.

"Where's daddy?" The other me smiled and picked up the little girl. I found myself walking towards them. "Work baby."

She looked a lot like Carter but she had my brown eyes, and had his dark hair. "No, this isn't right." I shook my head and backed away.

"But isn't it? You don't even remember your old life Emily." Grams was right, I didn't. 

"Then show me!" I begged her. "Show me what's happening right now."

Grams sighed, "As you wish." She took my hand and the sight in front of me was replaced with a new one. 

There I was lying in a hospital bed with people whose name I can't remember around me. 

"Oh my god! Em!" Syl came running in with a guy hot on her heals. 

I remember him but his name is a mystery to me as well as the others. 

"What the hell happened?" The guy holding my hand shrugged. 

".... found her." When the guy holding my hand spoke someone's name a ringing noise occurred. 

"What the hell?"

I looked towards Grams for an answer, "You must remember their names on your own." Was all she told me. 

"What happened?!" Syl asked one of the guys. 

"I was out on a run, and heard her scream. By the time I reached her house, she was lying on the ground."

I shook my head, "I don't remember." I whispered while looking at myself on the bed. 

My arm was in a cast and so was my right leg. I also had a bandage wrap around my head.

"What time did you find her?" Syl whispered while grabbing hold of my other hand. 

"A little after midnight." 

I could see Syl, visibly tense. "No." She whispered and began to cry. 

"It's all my fault. I should've stayed with her."

Everyone looked confused, I was still trying to remember who the hell these people were.

"What happened Syl? What are you saying?" The man holding my hand growled. Before she could answer Gramps walked through the door.

"Now, now, we all need to talk."