Baby, It's Cold Outside

|11:58pm|- Friday, February 5th

Emerson's POV

My eyes peel open and I'm met with surrounding's I'm very unsure about. Walls and furniture I've never seen before and an aching headache.

"Hey, you're awake." A man says as he walks in and passes me a cup of what I'm guessing is tea.

"Who-- Where--" I say shaking my head, my words not working right. I grip the mug tightly and take a deep breath.

"You're safe. I'm not a rapist or kidnapper." The man says and gives me a genuine smile.

"I'm Ryder Daily." The man-- Ryder-- extends his arm and I shake his hand.

"Emerson Winter." I say, and my voice feels small in this atmosphere.

"I wish we could've met under different circumstances." Ryder says releasing my hand, and leaning back in his chair.  Looking at him, he can't be too many years older than I am.

I smile. "How'd you find me?" I ask, curious to why I'm not still laying in the snow on a forgotten street.

"My car broke down, so I ended up having to walk home. I heard screaming but I couldn't see much because of the snow. But when I got closer I saw you laying on the street." He explains, and more and more I know that he was God sent.

"I have clothes you can change into, if you'd like. Your dress is all ripped and bloody so I thought you might want to." Ryder adds.

"Thank you." I say looking at him.

"Why did you help me?" I ask. "What do you mean?"

"Why didn't you just leave me? Why bother?" I question.

"Why would I leave you? I'm not that kind of person, and I just wanted to help you." Ryder says and a warm smile spreads across my face.

"Thank you." I whisper and get up off his couch. "Now where are those clothes you spoke about?"

-

-

-

"Did she really?!?" I ask, laughing and smiling. I'm in an oversized navy collage sweatshirt, and grey sweatpants. I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, to keep it out of my eyes and took off most of my make up.

"Yep. Dumped it right in my lap. Never wore those pants again." Ryder says, as he searches for something in the kitchen as I take a seat on his couch.

How is it possible to feel so comfortable and safe with someone I met just half an hour ago??

"She called the next day though. Blamed it on woman hormones." He says walking over with two mugs.

I laugh, watching him take a seat next to me. "I almost threw my drink at my boyfriend. Well ex-boyfriend." I tell him, leaning against the arm of the couch.

"He broke up with me, a few hours ago actually." I add. "Is that why you were out and dressed up?" Ryder asks, sipping his hot cocoa.

I nod, watching the miniature marshmallows float around in the blue mug. "He cheated on me."

"Margo cheated on me too." Ryder says, speaking of his ex-girlfriend.

"How did you find out?" I ask. "Answered her phone one day, and it was him." Ryder says.

"Do you ever wish you found out differently?" I ask him.

Ryder shrugs. "Yes and no. I would've liked to know before we moved in together, but I'm somewhat glad I answered the phone." He says, scratching his neck.

"She still broke up with me, but at least I saw it coming." Ryder adds.

"I didn't have a clue." I say, and see out of the corner of my eyes Ryder turning to look at me.

"I didn't see it coming; when really I should have."

"Not everything is meant to be seen." Ryder says. I place my mug on the coffee table and wrap my arms around my knees, bringing them close to my chest.

"I guess not." I say, resting my chin on my right knee. "I just wish- I just wish it happened differently I guess." I admit, staring at my feet.

"How do you wish it went?" Ryder asks, and looking at him he's all engaged and ready to comfort me if necessary. It's as if he's the best friend I've been searching for my whole life... and I only just met him.

I shrug. "If I had found out. Or asked him about all the times he went out, to get a sense of it coming." I tell him.

"So I wouldn't be blindsided by it all." I add, wiping a tear running down my cheek.

A silence builds, the sound of the crackling fire is the only noise in the apartment.

"We love who we love. And sometimes those people make mistakes, and they hurt us." Ryder says breaking the dead air.

"But I think that everyone has remorse in them. It just depends on whether their willing to show it or not."

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