Chapter 18 - Emily Becomes An Adult
Emily did not become a detective.
Or lawyer.
Or child advocate.
She hated when people expected.
She studied environmental design.
Then urban planning.
She liked public parks.
Maybe because backyard? We should not make trauma career. She simply liked drawing maps since little.
She moved to Seattle at twenty two.
I hated distance.
She laughed.
“You survived not tracking me?”
“Barely.”
She shared location voluntarily only travel.
Then Sarah.
They repaired.
Not perfect.
At college graduation, Emily invited both.
Sarah cried.
I cried more.
Thomas took photos.
No Jason.
Then Emily asked Sarah:
“Why didn’t you leave earlier?”
Sarah answered:
“I was ashamed I married him.”
That was one.
“And I thought I could fix evidence before disrupting your life.”
Another.
“And I was afraid your dad would react.”
Another.
Then:
“I was wrong to make all those fears more important than what you were telling me.”
Specific.
Emily said:
“I believe.”
Not forgive phrase.
Then:
“Do you hate Dad for fence?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he came.”
Sarah smiled.
“I knew.”
Then Emily:
“Still should’ve called cops before jumping.”
I said:
“Mrs Harris was.”
“Dad.”
“Fine.”
We all laughed.
That was healing.
Then Mrs Harris lived into 90s.
Emily sent postcards.
When Mrs Harris died at ninety one, Emily flew home.
At memorial, daughter said:
“Mom always said she should have called Friday.”
Emily answered:
“She helped Sunday.”
No perfect.
Then the dog enclosure.
Police had photographed.
After house sold, new owner removed.
Mrs Harris once sent picture:
Garden bed now.
No bars.
Emily looked long.
Then deleted.
No need reclaim.
Then pool.
New owner drained and resurfaced.
Blue water.
Ordinary.
Emily never visited.
Fine.
Then her own relationships.
At twenty seven, she married Noah Blake? We have Noah common. Let's use Ethan Brooks.
He knew history but did not fetishize.
At wedding, Sarah and I sat same row.
Thomas next to Sarah.
My partner? I eventually married Laura? We used Laura in prior different story. Could reuse across story but independent okay. Let's name Megan Ellis, a museum curator. I met later and married at 55. Fine.
Emily did not ask Jason anything.
No letter.
Then children? At 33 daughter Sophie? Could, but not needed.
Maybe she had one son Lucas. But to close intergenerational theme, yes.
She had son Ben at 32.
He was not told nightmare early.
At age 8, he knew Grandpa Michael, Grandma Sarah, and “a man Grandma used to be married to who went to prison for hurting family.” Enough.
May you like
Then one day Ben asked why Mom hates black trash bags near pool? She didn't, maybe.
No need.
