Emily, Please Don't Go Away

Twenty One

 "Are you going to be okay?" Frankie asked as I loaded up the last of the boxes into the truck. I turned to face him and sighed.

"Honestly, I probably won't be for a very long time, but I guess that's why I'm leaving. I'm hoping for a fresh start. I just want to leave this mess behind."

"Hopefully, not me," he said quietly. I smiled and gently pulled him into a hug.

"I could never leave you behind. You saved my life, Mr. Iero. For that, I will be forever grateful to you." He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed carefully. After a few minutes, he pulled away.

"So, what is your plan? Where are you going to go? What are you going to do?" He asked as he lit a cigarette. I shrugged.

"I don't really know. For now, I'm going back to Alabama. I'm going to try and get my shit together before I make any real plans. I'll be sure to let you know when I figure it out," I promised. He nodded understandingly.

"Em, just take care of yourself, okay?" I smiled at him and nodded.

"That's the plan."

* * * * *

Gerard was originally arrested for domestic violence and attempted murder, but he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. In lieu of a prison sentence, they sent him to a psychiatric hospital where he would receive the mental help that he needed. I kept in contact with Mikey and their parents, but we never talked about him. I tried my hardest to forget any of those years. Even the good memories triggered a panic attack.

Frankie ended up moving back to his hometown as well. He felt that it would be best to be around people he knew, just in case Gerard ever got out. He wasn't so sure that the hospital would help him. It took a little bit of time, but he finally recovered from his injuries. We still kept in touch, as promised.

As for me, I ended up going back to my hometown for almost a year. I joined a variety of support groups to help me get over what had happened. I started applying for jobs on the other side of the country, and before long, I received a job offer from Seattle. It didn't take long for me to find a place out there. I started making friends. Things were finally looking up for me. It was a dream come true.

But, that's the thing about dreams. In an instant, they can turn into nightmares.

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Check out the sequel: Emily, Come Home coming soon! 

  https://www.wattpad.com/story/212944785-emily-come-home