magnets | ethma

15

Ethan and Emma didn't kiss and they didn't even go home together. Ethan drove home alone and Emma went back to the apartment with a worried Mother who was currently gripping onto the phone, awaiting her arrival.

Each step Emma's legs took was another tear Michelle shed.

Whilst Ethan and Emma were talking in the car about what happened earlier with Grayson, she got a call. Michelle's sobs one after another. "Mom be clearer, I can't understand you." Ethan's face was full of fear. Emma's face showing no emotion but concentration.

Ethan didn't hear much but muffles from the phone and Emma's heart beating out of her chest.

He immediately held onto her free hand for comfort and continued driving with the other.

Staring at her when he could whilst her whole life was falling apart. Staring at an Emma that is unknown to him.

Ethan offered to drive her home but stubborn Emma just got out of the car which was stuck in heavy traffic and ran as fast as she could. No tears left her eyes but cracks started to form some more in her heart.

Nothing made her cry anymore, that's why what Grayson did brought her such distress but nothing shocks her anymore, nothing makes her cry anymore.

The closer and closer she got, her heart felt like it was trying to rip it's way out of her chest.

Running up the stairs and banging on the door. Michelle didn't answer, she swallowed down the fear that formed in her mouth. Was it him?

"Mom it's me! Please open up!"

The locks were fiddled with and Michelle was in Emma's sight. Shaky and cold blue. Emma immediately held onto her, stroking her hair. "It's okay Mom."

Michelle sobbed into Emma's sweater.

"What happened?" Emma nudged her Mom in the apartment some more so she could lock the door. "Mom?"

"H-he was here a-and everything is-" She paused for what seemed to Emma- years.

"Who did Mom?!"

She didn't mean to shout but she was frustrated.

"Your Dad!" She broke down and collapsed on the floor. "Martin. He took everything Emma."

Air seemed to have left the room for them and it was hard to breathe. Time had stopped and it was difficult to get it to continue with such heartbreak.

"The money?" Emma asked.

"Every penny."

"What else?"

"I mean look Emma, the place is fucked!" Michelle expressed with her hands.

The TV was smashed. Doors of the bedrooms punched. Glasses from the kitchen shattered on the floor. Everything deteriorated in front of their eyes. Everything they have built without him.

Gone.

"We have nowhere to go! No one will care for us. We have to go back to him. We can't do this anymore Emma."

Emma knew she had to be strong and knew that this could be Michelle's breaking point.

Emma had calmed Michelle down and she had found her place on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket- drinking some hot tea. Emma stood in the kitchen on the phone to Ethan.

"Everything?" He repeated in disbelief.

"I know Ethan and I just don't know what to do. We have tried everything and I'm scared she's gonna do something."