Stolen (Sequel To Capture)

Ten

There have been several impactful moments in my life that have left me numb. Losing my dad, losing my family, falling in love, getting shot, losing Emma. The list goes on.

Standing in that elevator reading her writing, her words, recognizing the loops of her handwritting, the dots on her I's, I felt numb.

All that I am now is a hollowed shell of a man clinging to the memories. Memories that now betrayed me.

I stepped into the hotel room barely able to walk on my own two feet. Everything seemed hard, walking, breathing, my head ached for it all to mercifully end. "Liam?" I heard Zayn call to me but he sounded a million miles away.

I felt sick. I ignored him stepping into the bedroom and shutting the door behind me, resting my back against the frame. The room was spinning as I vomited into the trash bin feeling myself break out into a cold sweat.

I used to get panic attacks from time to time as a kid, this had feeling held a familiarity to it as I felt like the walls might close in on me.

I collapsed hard into the bed face down pulling the covers up over me as I shivered in fear, my body tricked into thinking I was actually cold.

The thing about panic attacks are they you feel like you're dying. That suddenly the world might break open amd swallow you whole. I prayed for the sweet relief of death, I shut my eyes and imagined Emma holding me tight.

I didn't believe much in God but I knew if we couldn't be together in this life then it would happen in the next.

Clenching my eyes shut I pictured her lips on mine, her smile as she came through the door each night after work, the closest thing to heaven I'd ever see.

My body relaxed as I envisioned Emma in my mind.

I walked up behind her and snaked my arms around her torso. "Hey you." She breathed out effortlessly.

"Hi." I replied happily. I spun her around to face me, her brown eyes meeting mine, I smiled as she popped up on her tip toes to kiss me.

"You have a nice day?" She asked.

"I did." I nodded. "Zayn and I went to the park for lunch."

She laughed. A quick sharp laugh, as if her energy was a burst of joy that her body couldn't contain. "Sounds romantic," she teased. "Should I be jealous?"

"Oh absolutely. Zayn and I are getting very close these days." I played along. Not even her jokes could penetrate my good mood.

"You're awfully cheerful." Emma noted as I grabbed her hand twirling her around the living room.

"Am I?" I asked even though I knew I was. I wanted her to wonder, I wanted her to ask.

"Did something happen?" Emma asked finally taking my bait.

"There was a group of children on a field trip there, at the park," I said carefully getting my point across without saying it. "Makes me hopeful for us, for our future."

"Liam, don't." Emma warned stepping away from me. I frowned feeling my good mood slip. "Not now."

"I'm not saying now, I'm just saying maybe soon." I reasoned.

"Please stop." She begged. "I can't have this argument again." The stream of tears falling down her pale cheeks.

"Do you ever want kids Em?" I asked realizing what she meant.

"I want you." She cried crossing back to me but I got up and stepped away not wanting to be in her arms. "I want you babe." She whined again.