Tucked (REWRITING/EDITING-)

21

Emma in her dress above...

Eli.

I think everything is going smoothly. Em's parents seem to like me well enough, they are quite friendly. Emma's mom, Sophia, has a great sense of humor, but I sense is trying to intimidate me. Her dad, Oscar, seems very kind and inviting. He's not all there, since his recent stroke, but I definitely see parts of Emma that come from him. I like them, and I envy the happiness they have. My family never had that, even when Abigail was around.

So I'm being myself. Plain old Eli Binks, who has never had a serious girlfriend, trying to prove himself. At least tonight it's just me and Em. She's taking me out to her favorite restaurant, before her surgery tomorrow. And even though Sadie is a very lovable firecracker, I'm glad to have some alone time. My train of thought leaves the station as a fusillade of knocks comes from the door.

"Eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwiiiiiiiii! Can I come innnnnnnnn?" A perky voice chimes, muffled through the wood.

"Okay Sadie." I chuckle as the door swings open, followed by a little girl.

"Will you hurry up? Emma needs to get ready and you mister are hogging her room!" Sadie crosses her arms in a very sassy way

"Yeah, yeah. No problem." I say, running a comb through my sandy blond hair quickly. Sadie shows me out, and I bump into Em entering.

"Hey babe, I'll be ready soon." she says, kissing my cheek as we pass.

"Babe? That's new."

"It makes me feel cool, okay? Now go." Em blushes, closing the door. Okay, I'm all good with babe.

Emma.

I pull my new unworn dress from my tote bag, my whole abdomen aching, burning. I attempt to ignore it as I admire my clothing. It's a lavender floral lace dress, going down to just above my knees.

I make Sadie cover her eyes as I slip it on, then pull my hair out of the two braids it's been in since last night, creating loose waves.

"Can I looooooook yet?" Sadie pesters.

"Yes, I'm clothed." I say.

Sadie uncovers her eyes and gasps, staring at me in admiration.

"You look bangable! Woooooowwwwwww."

"Sadie! Where did you learn that word?" I say, turning to gawk at her.

"T.V. Mommy told me it means beautiful." she grins.

Oh. Okay. "Well, thanks hon." I decide to not bother with makeup, it doesn't really make a difference anyway in my opinion. I slip on my silver earrings and matching sandals, then I'm all set. I walk out into the living room, where Eli is waiting. He stares at me, and seems to zone out for a second.

"You look amazing." He says, a smile spreading across his face.

I'm taking Eli to one of my favorite places, a cute little cafe with outdoor seating near my parents house. I drive, and it takes us about five minutes to get there. Oh I love driving this car. I don't get to very often, since he's pretty protective, but he trusts me enough that I'm allowed.

"Wow, this place is pretty nice." Eli says, getting out of the car.

"What did I tell you? We get to pick where we sit, and we go inside to order."

"Shall we?"he asks.

"We shall." I reply, taking his hand.

Today is Spaghetti Sunday, so that's what I go for. Eli gets margerita pizza, and we both get lemonades.

We take a seat at a little lime green table, twinkly lights above us, and talk. I tell him stupid childhood stories, and places I love in the neighborhood.

"Emma?" Eli says.

"Yeah?"

"Are you scared?"

I wasn't expecting that. "A little bit. My chances are really good, you know that. Of course I'm scared though. There are so many possible outcomes. But, I somehow know I'll make it. Okay?"

"How are you calmer than I am? I love you so, so much, and this is freaking me out. I've been in this situation before, and it didn't work out. Of course I'm going to worry, even with good chances. Not that I want you to worry, or be scared. I have faith in you, and you'll pull through. I... I just want to make sure you know how much I care, just in case..."

The pain keeps getting worse, in my heart, and my abdomen. I tear up, but I'm not sure if its from Eli or the pain.

"Eli Binks, you are quite possibly the best thing that's ever happened to me. I know how you feel about me, and I feel the same, if not even more. I know this is so hard for you, but its hard for me too. I love you, and that is helping me through it." I say, clutching my stomach subtly.

His eyes, those incredible eyes I fell in love with the first time I saw him, stare at me filled with emotions I can't decipher. He gets up, comes over to me and holds me in his arms. He kisses me hard on the mouth, and all those feelings I couldn't see are exposed. Love, pain, passion, sadness, even anger. I break away from his soft embrace, doubling over in pain. This is the worst its ever been, it feels as if every cell in my stomach is on fire, and my vision goes blurry.

"Emma! Oh my god, are you okay?"

I manage to shake my head before I pass out, the image of Eli's beautiful face slipping away.

Eli.

"Somebody call an ambulance!" I yell, clutching Emma and elevating her head.

A few diners around me look panicked, and I see a woman making the phone call. I check her pulse. It's there, but its pretty slow.

Is she going to be okay?

•

The ambulance doesn't arrive for what seems like years, but is only a few minutes. They get her in the ambulance, and let me ride with her. She looks so peaceful, but I know chaos is ensuing inside her. I call her parents and tell them where to meet us.

Please be okay.

•

Everything is out of focus. The hospital waiting area is bland, fuzzy. Sadie is sitting next to me, silent for the first time since I met her, solemnly swinging her legs once in a while. She had to come because it was so abrupt, the Caldwells couldn't get a babysitter. I let my gaze focus on her. She looks so sad, like a puppy without anyone to play with. I take her little hand, and squeeze. She looks up at me.

"Ith Emma gonna be okay?" She says softly, tears in her eyes.

"I hope so."