heartseeker

Emma
June 20th

The day at the music store had been unusually slow, the kind of slow that made every minute feel like an hour.

Only a few regulars had come in, picking up new records or guitar strings, chatting briefly before heading back out into the oppressive summer heat.
The store was cool and quiet, a stark contrast to the sweltering world outside.

Normally, the calm would be a welcome break, but today it left me with too much time to think. Too much time to let my thoughts wander back to that night in the woods and the way it had changed everything.

I had been trying to keep busy, organizing shelves, restocking, anything to keep my mind occupied, but the lull was relentless. Eventually, I pulled out my phone, desperate for a distraction.
The screen lit up with a string of notifications from the group chat.

GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!!!!!

Cass: Guysssssss we need to hang out today

Eve: Gosh I totes agree, but what do you want to do? It's hot af outside

Jaden: So fucking right. I'm outside right now, and I'm like grillin' out here

Ava: We should totally go to the pool I wanted to ask you guys anyway

Lacy: I'm so coming, but can I invite Matt too? Unfortunately, I promised him we'd hang out soon

Ethan: I'm in. I'll just come a little later since I have to work till 5, but I'll come after that.

Eve: Pool sounds good I'm in

Eve: Emma, Liam? You guys in?

The invitation sat there, waiting for a response. But the thought of joining them filled me with dread.

The idea of being out in the open, at the pool where I'd have to wear a swimsuit, exposing the bruises that still marred my skin—it was unthinkable.

The bruises were still dark, angry reminders of the violence he had made me go through, and the thought of anyone seeing them made my stomach turn.

The truth was, I couldn't bear to be anywhere that wasn't my bed, wrapped up in the safety of my blankets, away from the world that now felt so hostile.

I typed out a quick response:

Emma: Nah, sorry. Gotta babysit, maybe next time though.

As soon as I hit send, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Liam.
My heart skipped a beat, a rush of guilt and anxiety bubbling up.

I hesitated before answering.

"Hey, what's up?" I tried to sound casual, forcing a lightness into my voice that I didn't feel.

Liam's voice came through the phone, as hyper as ever. "Oh my god, girl, why aren't you goingggggg?"

I let out a light laugh, trying to deflect. "I can't, Liam, I really have to babysit." Liar. The word echoed in my head, heavy with the weight of the truth I couldn't bring myself to share.

I hadn't told anyone about what had happened, not even Liam.

How could I?

How could I explain the terror that gripped me every time I thought about leaving the house, the fear that wrapped around my chest like a vise, making it hard to breathe?

Liam's voice softened, the concern seeping through despite his usual high-energy tone. "Look, girl, I totally respect that, but are you alright? You've been acting odd since Saturday."