“It’ll just be for a short while,” Mrs. Ford assured, gesturing Emery toward the chair in front of her desk as she settled into her own. Her tone was firm, but the look in her eyes showed concern. Emery’s mind was a whirlwind, and his anxiety was written across his face as he sat, his shoulders tense.
“Did something happen to Nia?” he blurted out, unable to hide the worry in his voice. Mrs. Ford saw the raw concern in his expression. She hadn’t missed the way he’d rushed to Nia’s side when she fainted, his eyes wide with fear and his voice trembling as he tried to wake her.
Mrs. Ford took a moment, considering her words. She knew how strained Emery’s emotions had been over the past few weeks, watching over his sister every day without rest, clashing with his parents when they tried to force him to leave her bedside. Even with everything he was going through, he hadn’t looked after himself, and it showed. She hesitated, wondering if he could bear hearing any more. But if anyone could keep an eye on Nia in her absence, it would be him.
“The truth is…” she began, watching his face closely, “Nia has struggled with trauma ever since the incident. She tried to…” Her voice faltered slightly. “There was a suicide attempt.”
Emery’s eyes widened. It was a thought he’d never dared to imagine. She went through so much, and he hadn’t known.
“You didn’t know what really happened between them, did you?” Mrs. Ford asked, her voice softer, almost a whisper. Emery shook his head, a pained look in his eyes. He hadn’t been there to help her, to protect either of them.
---
Nia lost track of time, her thoughts tangled as she gazed out the hospital window. It wasn’t until she heard the door open that her trance broke.
“Hey,” her dad called out softly, walking in with her brother, Mavin. It wasn’t who she’d expected, but the familiar sight of her family warmed her heart. “You okay?” he asked, his tone gentle as he approached her bed.
She managed a smile and nodded, but Mavin’s curious eyes were already studying her. “Mum said you made trouble today,” he teased, a smirk creeping onto his face. Nia’s cheeks flushed as she met his gaze, her lips quirking into a grin despite herself.
“Oh, she did, huh?” she replied playfully, nudging him as they shared a lighthearted moment. Their dad watched on, a smile on his face as the siblings exchanged jabs. He could tell something was different about Nia today. She seemed lighter somehow, more relaxed, as if she was beginning to fit into this strange new life she’d found herself in.
For a few moments, Nia allowed herself to enjoy the moment. She was still caught up in questions—puzzling out the strange connection between herself, Emery, and his sister—but she let them fade, if only briefly.
As they talked, the door opened again. Mrs. Ford entered, with Emery quietly trailing behind her. They moved over to Nia’s bed, and Mrs. Ford reached out to her husband, exchanging a brief, knowing glance. Emery nodded at Nia politely, but his expression was guarded. Nia’s eyes drifted to him, wondering what her mother had told him, but his face betrayed nothing. He was distant and hard to read, a closed book.
Mavin, on the other hand, was eager to leave. He shifted his weight impatiently, glancing from the bed to the door. “Can we go now?” he asked, already looking a little pale from being in the hospital. Nia knew how much he hated hospitals, and she felt a pang of sympathy for him.
“Throwing a tantrum already?” she teased, her voice light as she grabbed her bag and sidestepped toward the door. The reality of her new life, the challenges, and the mystery of Emerald all weighed on her heavily. She couldn’t ignore the feeling that her life had been uprooted and reshaped into something unrecognizable. But for now, she just wanted to leave.
“I’m coming with you,” Mavin called out after her, but she was already halfway out the door. Her parents exchanged glances of confusion while Emery just stared silently at the door, lost in thought.
A few moments later, Nia found herself standing in the hospital yard, taking a deep breath of the cool air. The events of the day had left her mentally exhausted. She located her father’s car easily and slipped inside, sinking into the back seat and resting her head back, her eyes closed. Her heart ached with the longing for something familiar. For a fleeting moment, she wished she could see her mother, the one from her “past” life, and tell her everything she was going through.
It wasn’t long before the car doors opened, and her dad’s voice broke the silence. “You okay, honey?” he asked, sliding into the driver’s seat while Mavin settled beside her in the back.
“Yes,” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper as she kept her gaze on the ceiling of the car. Her father gave her a worried glance in the rearview mirror, but he didn’t press her.
The ride home was quiet, with each of them lost in their own thoughts. They stopped briefly at The Blues Inn for a takeaway since Natalia was tied up with cases at the hospital. Even then, Nia didn’t stir, her mind adrift. She remained deep in thought until they finally pulled up to their house.
Nia was the first to climb out of the car, grabbing her share of the packages while Mavin followed, carrying the rest.
“Should I leave these in the kitchen?” he asked as they stepped inside, glancing at her.
“No, just drop them on the table,” she replied, balancing the bags as she carefully closed the door behind her. She managed to get everything to the table, then turned to Mavin with a grateful smile. “Here, help me with these,” she said, holding out a few of the bags.
The table was soon covered with their dinner, and the three of them sat down to eat quietly. Her father noticed the distant look in her eyes but chose to let it slide for now. The day had clearly taken a toll on her.
Once they’d finished eating, Nia instinctively reached for the plates to clear the table, but her father gently placed a hand on hers.
“I’ll take care of this,” he said softly, his voice warm with reassurance. She paused, her hand hovering over the plates for a moment before she let go.
“Alright,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll be in my room, then,” she added, a hint of fatigue in her tone as she stood up and made her way to the stairs.
“Don’t be long, Mavin,” her dad called out, his eyes following Nia as she climbed the stairs.
Nia closed her door behind her, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. She sank onto her bed, her thoughts swirling around the events of the day. The tangled mystery of her life, the memories that haunted her, and the overwhelming weight of her emotions pressed down on her. For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to simply breathe, hoping that tomorrow might offer some semblance of peace.