Chapter 76 076
EMILY
I did not remember much about the drive home.
The world outside the car window moved in a blur of lights and passing buildings, but none of it felt real. It was like watching a movie with the sound turned off. Everything happened around me, yet I felt strangely disconnected from it.
Morgan kept glancing at me from the driver’s seat.
I knew she was worried. I could feel her eyes flick toward me every few seconds, checking if I was still breathing, still sitting upright, still present.
Aaron sat in the passenger seat for most of the ride. He spoke quietly with Morgan about something I could not focus on. At some point he got out of the car. He said something about going back to check on Ryan.
I barely heard him.
My mind kept replaying the same moment over and over again.
Ryan’s face.
His confused eyes.
The way he looked at me like I was a stranger standing in the wrong room.
Who are you?
The question had carved itself deep into my chest.
Now the silence in the car wrapped around me like fog.
I sat in the back seat with my hands resting in my lap, staring straight ahead.
I could not cry anymore.
It felt like I had cried every tear my body had.
All that remained was emptiness.
Morgan pulled into the driveway and parked the car in front of the house.
The engine shut off.
The sudden quiet felt heavy.
“Emily,” Morgan said gently.
I blinked slowly.
“Yeah?”
“We’re home.”
Home.
The word sounded strange in my ears.
I stepped out of the car without saying anything. My movements felt slow, like my body belonged to someone else.
Morgan walked beside me as we entered the house.
The living room lights were dim. Everything looked exactly the same as it had this morning.
Before everything collapsed.
Morgan guided me toward the couch.
“Sit,” she said softly.
I obeyed without arguing.
She sat beside me and rubbed my shoulder gently.
“You should try to rest,” she murmured.
I stared at the floor.
Rest.
How was I supposed to rest when my entire life had just been ripped apart?
Ryan did not remember me.
He did not remember us.
He did not remember Zara.
The thought twisted painfully in my chest.
Zara.
A wave of panic suddenly crashed through my numbness.
“What time is it?” I asked quietly.
Morgan glanced at the clock.
“Almost five.”
Five.
My stomach dropped.
“Zara,” I whispered.
Morgan nodded.
“Eddie said she would bring her. You told me.”
I nodded slowly.
My daughter would be home soon.
My little girl.
My heart clenched.
How was I supposed to explain this to her?
She had spent the entire morning talking about how excited she was to see her dad again.
I swallowed hard.
A few minutes passed in silence.
Then headlights flashed through the front window.
Morgan stood up and walked to the door.
“That should be Eddie.”
I stayed on the couch.
I did not trust my legs yet.
The front door opened and Zara’s voice filled the house.
“Mommy!”
Something inside me cracked open instantly.
I stood up just as she ran into the living room with her little backpack bouncing behind her.
Her face lit up when she saw me.
“Mommy!”
She threw herself into my arms.
And just like that, the numbness broke.
I wrapped my arms around her small body and held her tightly.
The familiar smell of her shampoo filled my nose.
Warm.
Safe.
Real.
My baby.
A small smile finally touched my lips.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I whispered, kissing her hair.
Zara pulled back slightly and looked up at me with wide eyes.
“Where’s Daddy?”
The question hit me like a punch to the chest.
I forced the smile to stay on my face.
“He’s… busy today.”
Her shoulders drooped slightly.
“But he said he would pick me up from school,” she said quietly.
My throat tightened.
I could feel tears threatening again.
Morgan stepped into the room quickly.
“Hey, Zara,” she said brightly. “Guess what?”
Zara looked at her.
“What?”
Morgan knelt beside her.
“Your daddy had a lto travel to get you a barbie princess house.”
Zara’s eyes widened immediately.
“Really?”
The excitement in her voice nearly shattered me.
“Yes baby” Morgan said gently. “He would be home soon.”
Zara looked back at me.
“But I want to go meet him?”
My heart twisted painfully.
“Yes,” I said quickly. “We can go to him right now.”
Morgan’s head snapped toward me.
“Emily,” she warned softly.
But I was already grabbing Zara’s hand.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go see Daddy.”
Zara’s face lit up.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Morgan stepped in front of us immediately.
“Emily, stop.”
I frowned at her.
“Move.”
“You need to slow down,” she said firmly.
“I am fine.”
“You are not fine.”
“I need to take my daughter to see her father.”
Morgan crossed her arms.
“Not tonight.”
My chest tightened with frustration.
“Why not?”
“Because Ryan just had surgery. The hospital is full of doctors and nurses and chaos right now.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It does.”
I tightened my grip on Zara’s hand.
“She deserves to see him.”
Morgan reached forward and gently pulled Zara behind her.
“Emily, listen to yourself.”
“I am listening.”
“No,” Morgan said firmly. “You are panicking.”
“I am not panicking.”
Zara looked between us nervously.
“Mommy?”
Morgan crouched beside her.
“It’s okay, sweetie.”
Tears filled Zara’s eyes.
“Why are you fighting?”
My heart cracked instantly.
I stepped forward.
“Baby, it’s okay.”
But Zara began crying.
Soft, frightened sobs.
And suddenly I realized what I was doing.
I was falling apart right in front of her.
Guilt crashed through me.
“Oh God,” I whispered.
I covered my face with my hands.
“I’m sorry.”
Morgan rubbed Zara’s back gently while glaring at me.
“Emily,” she said quietly but firmly. “Wake up.”
Her words cut through the fog in my head.
“Look at your daughter.”
I lowered my hands slowly.
Zara stood there crying.
My beautiful little girl.
And I had scared her.
Shame burned in my chest.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered again.
Morgan hugged Zara and rocked her gently.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” she murmured.
I stood there frozen.
Broken.
How had this day spiraled so far out of control?
Then the doorbell rang.
The sharp sound echoed through the house.
Morgan frowned slightly.
“Are you expecting someone?”
I shook my head slowly.
“No.”
She walked toward the door cautiously.
Zara sniffled behind me.
Morgan opened the door.
A woman stood on the porch holding a folder.
She looked professional.
Serious.
“Good evening,” the woman said politely.
Morgan blinked.
“Yes?”
The woman offered a small, official smile.
“My name is Sarah Robbins.”
She lifted the folder slightly.
“I’m from social services.”