pieces | ethma

The Other

Emma

My heart was broken. The man I loved for two years was gone suddenly. He was driving home from work when a drunk driver hit him head on.

I thought Grayson was supposed to be the one. We were supposed to get married and have children. Live in the tiny home he always dreamed of.

We met in college, and started dating after graduation. That was almost three years ago when we met, but we've been together for two.

I didn't understand how someone can just be gone in the blink of an eye.

It was a week after the funeral when Grayson's mom knocked on my apartment door. I was super close with his family, and they always welcomed me with opened arms.

"Lisa. Hi. Come on in." I said. I knew how much it must hurt for her to even get out of bed. That's kind of how I feel. We've all been there for each other in these last two weeks. It's been rough, but we're all helping each other survive this. I don't know how, but we are.

She came into my apartment, and sat down on the couch. "I found something that Grayson wanted you to have." She told me as I sat down. It was an envelope addressed to me. Not my home address, but just Emma. "He gave it to me about a year ago, and he told me to give it to you if anything ever happened to him. He loved you so much, Emma. He wanted to give you the world. I just want you to know that you're always gonna be welcome in our family, okay?"

I nodded, giving Lisa a hug. "Thanks, Lisa. If there's anything I can do, give me a call."

"Emma, honey. You've done so much already. Give yourself some time to grieve, okay? If you need anything, you call. Okay?"

I nodded. "Thanks for giving me this." I said, holding up the letter.

She nodded. "Come visit soon, okay?"

"Of course." I replied.

After she hugged me goodbye, Lisa went on her way and it was just me and Grayson's letter.

I stared at it for fifteen minutes. This was the last thing Grayson would ever be able to say to me.

It took a lot of courage to open it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Emma,

I'm writing this letter because I want what's best for you if something ever happens to me and I can't be around anymore. Just know that I love you so much, and I want you to have the best life you can possibly live. Even if it's without me. With that being said, if any event occurs where I can't be around, I would want you to be with Ethan. He's the only other person I can fathom being able to take care of you, and he's the only other person I can imagine being with you. I know it might not make sense to you, but I want you to trust me. He'll take good care of you. I'm sorry that you're reading this. Never forget how much I love you. Make yourself happy. I'll see you again someday, my angel.

I love you.

-Grayson

I have to admit that it made no sense to me at first. But as time went on, I sat there and thought about it. It's what Grayson wanted. And in a way, I know why.

Ethan's the only person I can imagine that would take care of me as good as Grayson did. Ethan's the only person that would make sense for me if Grayson and I can't be together.

I couldn't sleep that night. The moonlight was shining right into my window. The funny thing is that Grayson kept telling me that I needed curtains. Now it just makes me sad that I never did.

Rain was pouring outside, and it mirrored how I felt. Sad and empty. Lost without Grayson. It was around eleven o'clock when I heard pounding on my front door.

I got out of bed, Grayson's sweatshirt reaching to my knees. I slipped on a pair of leggings before I went to the door.

Opening it, I was surprised to see Ethan standing there.

"Ethan? Come in here. You're getting soaked." I said, pulling him into the apartment and shutting the door. I turned the lights on. "What are doing here so late?"

I put his hand on his forehead. "Grayson wrote me a letter, and he told me to take care of you if he's gone, and it just made me realize that he's right. Emma, I want to survive this with you. I know Grayson told me to, and he would've wanted us to help each other through this. I don't know what this means for us, but Grayson told me that I'm the only person on the planet that he'd want you to be with. Honestly the letter he wrote to me about you brought out feelings I didn't know I had. He told me everything I need to know to give you a great life. I'm gonna take care of you, Em. We're gonna survive this."

I didn't know what to say. All I know is that I didn't care that his clothes were soaked when I threw my arms around him. "It didn't make sense at first, but I've been thinking about this all day. He would've wanted this for us."

Ethan fulfilled his promise to Grayson. He took great care of me. Always making sure I had everything I needed, and even things I didn't ask for that he knew I needed or wanted.

I never expected to fall for him, but after a while it all made sense. Grayson was right. Ethan was the only person in the world I should've been with if it couldn't have been Grayson himself.

Ethan and I got married three years later. It was a beautiful wedding, and even though it was the middle of December, the sun was shining brighter than ever. We believe it was Grayson's sign of approval.

It's been five years since Ethan and I got married, and I've never felt more loved. We have three amazing children including our three year old identical twin boys we named Grayson and Asher, and our baby girl who was just born two months ago. Her name is Layla.

I never thought I'd end up with the other twin, but now it all makes so much sense. He's the love of my life. Sure, I miss Grayson, but I know now that Ethan and I were meant to be.