Trapped

Chapter 13-Emi

I awoke the next day, oddly relaxed. I looked at the clock on the bed table beside me. 6:21 am. I looked over to Will, who was still sound asleep. I got up off the bed and went to the mirror. The scars on my face had almost vanished. Nothing a bit of makeup can't cover up, I thought. I walked over to my closet, and pulled out my clothes for the day. Light blue jeans, and a bright red peasant top. I quickly went to the bathroom to change and put my makeup on. I came out and looked out the window. Our garden was wilted with dead and dying flowers everywhere. I'll do that first, I thought. Will is going to sleep for another 2-3 hours, so might as well. I braided my hair and went over to Will, and whispered,

"Will, I'm going downstairs to do some gardening work okay?"

"Hmm,whaa?" came his slurred voice.

"Gardening. I'll be downstairs."

"Ok.Whatever," he said, and continued to snore. I rolled my eyes and left the room.

I went downstairs and to the garden. The sun was barely up, and the grass was dewy and fresh. I went over to the rows of dying and unkept flowers in our flower bed, and shook my head sadly. Will withers everything that comes by him, I thought. 

I began to tug out the dead flowers and weeds, when a shadow came over me. I looked up to see Mrs.Monroe's grandson, Jake, smiling. I got up and took off my gloves before smiling back.

"Good morning, I didn't know you guys are early birds too." he said happily.

"I am," I said with a chuckle, "Will's not."

"Will.. your husband right?" Jake asked.

 "He's my-" I hesitated to respond. Could you even use the word husband to describe someone who had forcefully held you captive for 3 years? I sighed and said, "Yes, he is my husband."

"Oh, I see. So, are you into gardening too?" he asked, eager to change the topic.

"I guess. I saw all these dead plants and they were an eyesore. Thought I'd clean up a bit."

"Yeah, if you ever wanna borrow some supplied, I have some in the garage, I'm an avid gardener, and so was Grandma. The summers I spent with her, I learned more about plants and botany than I ever thought I would" he said laughing. I smiled. Something about his laughter was so contagious, so heartwarming. I felt like I hadn't genuinely smiled in a century. 

"Maybe someone would need all that knowledge someday, you never know," I said, looking down at the flowerbed. "So when are you planning you go back?"

He was taken aback at first, I think he took it as a bit of an offense. How rude of me to ask like that, I thought, I must look like a complete weirdo. I bit my lip and started again.

"I meant to say, are you planning to return home after Mrs.Monroe's passing?"

"Uh, yeah I was going to, but I think I might my moving in here actually, there's something special about this place," he said. I noticed him looking at me while he said that, and I, aware of his undertone message, responded back,

"Are you sure? I mean you must have a job or a home or a family to get back to no?" I asked pretending to be fascinated by the leaves of the pine tree next to me. 

"Nope. I'm an English teacher back in Boston, but I just filed for a transfer. I think I'd like it here. Plus, after mom died, this is where I spent the best of my childhood, with Grandma. Dad and my stepmom were always confined to their own little world. It was Grandma who practically raised me. So, this place actually means a lot to me."

I felt like a complete jerk. I realized how awful and inconsiderate I must've sounded, telling him to move back. I guess being a captive does that to you.

"I'm extremely sorry, I didn't realize the sentiment behind this house and this city to you."

"No worries, besides, neighbors look out for each other, no need to apologize." he said happily.

I smiled and felt relieved. The two minutes after he spoke passed by in complete silence. I didn't attempt to ask anything and neither did he. We found comfort in each other's awkward and silent presence. Suddenly, Jake cleared his throat and said,

"Well I'd better get going, I have some errands to run. It was nice meeting you..."

"Bri-" I stopped. I had forgotten that no one named Bridget existed anymore. "Emi. Emi Tassel." I said uneasily.

"Emi. Got it. Nice to meet you. I'll come by later to meet Will and introduce myself properly. Until then." he said as he took out his hand for me to shake.

I looked at his hand with a puzzled look. He shifted it and pulled it back. I wasn't used to being in contact with anyone. He smiled and waved goodbye. I smiled and said, "Bye." 

I watched him walk away. That's it, I thought. I know how I'm going to get Will to leave the house, and out of my life. I just have to be patient, and take everything step by step, carefully. A grin came across my face as I watched Jake close the front door of his house behind him.