Emma

Chapter 12

Emma sat opposite Cole on the long, purple couch, a mug of tea in her hands while black coffee was in his. She patiently waited for him to start and watched as he rubbed the mug with his fingers.

"I was trying to... I was trying to... Not feel." Cole finally spoke and Emma's eyebrows rose at his choice of words. She nodded towards the direction of his wound and looked back up at him, causing him to let out a small chuckle. 

"I don't know how to explain it or where to start..." He said trailing off.

Emma thought for a while. "Start from the beginning. Not the very beginning ofcourse, but like that morning." She said, leaning in closer knowing that if she missed a word there was no turning back. 

Cole let out a small cough and adjusted his shoulders, trying to compose himself. "I- I woke up that morning with a headache. I know what you're thinking, but, no. This was not any normal headache that happens to everyone. M-my whole body..... Felt..... Drained. The nightmares I had were becoming more frequent and... they drained me. "He paused before leaning forward just like Emma had done.

"I felt cursed. I felt as though something had placed a target on my back and was continuously hunting me. It shadowed my thoughts and I could feel the voice in my head screaming louder and louder, ringing like some bell. "

He lowered his head down a little, keeping his eyes on the mug in his hands, his grip tightened as he struggled for words. His voice turned into a slight whisper. "I felt a teardrop and that's when I lost it. I punched the mirror behind me and got the deep cut on my knuckle. I didn't even bother about it. All I wanted to do was.... was.... not feel. Just not feel the pain. All I wanted was peace. But the voice inside my head...... the feeling..... It kept on reminding me of how, how undeserving I am. I just needed peace...... So I began to ride. I rode my bike hoping, just hoping, that some way, somehow, I'd find it. It was near peace at a point. Before I could feel it again, the rage, the confusion, the guilt, it all unsettled me. So I rode faster, and faster. I rode until everything faded away and all I could see and feel was just darkness. But the feeling was still there. I didn't even know where I was going but I kept on riding. That's when I crashed."

Cole finally looked up to meet her eyes. He was expecting to see the pity that he oh so hated. But instead, what he saw, he couldn't decipher. Her eyes were filled with much more than pity and all she wanted to do was just hug him.

She felt as though he was explaining to her, her own life story before she found the right way. She just looked back at him frozen in position. God, he's going through what I faced every day before I found you. Lord give me strength to try to help him and open up his heart to accept.

She moved closer to him before stretching out both her arms. "Do you mind if I... If I... prayed for you?" She held her breath waiting for his answer. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel as though she was just using him as a church project.

That's one of the things people often mixed up. They got offended as soon as someone says "Can I pray for you." It made them feel as though the person was trying to say; "I am better than you and I have no problem in life so I will pray for you so people can see me as perfect." But that was the complete opposite. And Emma honestly hoped that he would think so too.

Minutes passed before Cole finally stretched out his hand to meet hers. A small smile of gratitude filled her face and she held both his hands and pulled herself closer to him in such a way that their knees touched. She joined their foreheads together and rested both their hands on her lap.

A feeling that she couldn't describe flooded her body, her heartbeat quickened just by the contact and she could feel his quicken too. Cole closed his eyes and leaned in, further pressing their foreheads together, craving the contact. She let out a sigh before also closing her eyes.

He could feel the strong presence he had felt before, except this time, he was slowly starting to realize what produced it, and it most definitely swam around them.

"Dear Lord, giver of peace and overflowing love, we thank you." The words that left Emma's mouth stunned him and he opened his eyes a little to see if she was joking. She wasn't. We thank you? After everything I told her she's giving thanks?

"We thank you for giving us this beautiful day and for allowing us to be among the living. We don't deserve anything we have but yet you still bless us. Father, I commit your son into your hands. Lord, you said that in peace we will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, Father, make us dwell in safety, God that is what you said and you never lie nor break your promise. Jesus, Savior, let peace fill his heart and mind, and drive away the worries that cloud him. Thank you Lord God Almighty for answering our prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Cole opened his eyes to see hers still closed and he looked at her in confusion. She lightly squeezed his hand and realization hit him. He closed his eyes and quickly let out an "Amen" before opening his eyes to be met by bright brown ones.

Emma had a huge smile on her face as though they hadn't just had a tragic-filled moment and instead looked like she had just gotten a million-dollar check.

Her smile was contagious and Cole couldn't help smiling himself as he chuckled. They slowly and somewhat grudgingly let go of each other, realizing their position and moving back to how they initially sat.

"So now let's talk about the fun stuff," Emma said her smile widening as she wiggled her eyebrows at him. Cole shook his head and let out a deep short laugh. 

"You're a very mysterious person Cole Walker." She said a wide smile on her face. 

"So as you Emmeline Davids."