Page 111 of Freeing Emily

Suddenly images of a woman flash through my mind. She’s beautiful with long dark curly hair, smooth ebony skin, and deep chocolate-brown eyes. Her full lips lift into a sad smile.

Oh my God. She’s one of them… One of the women I saw when I was with Vladimir.

I can’t hold back the sob that breaks through my lips. The woman doesn’t say anything, she simply watches as I break down.

“I’m so sorry,” I cry.

Her head tips to the side, questions running through her eyes.

“I’m so sorry for what happened to you.” I sputter.

Her brows slightly pinch. Shaking her head, she sets a hand on her chest and her smile widens.

“I’m at peace.”

The softness in her voice flows into my ears. My heart hurts at the fact that she is no longer here but it’s also appreciative that she’s no longer suffering.

She disappears and flashes of other women come and go. They show me that they’ve found the tranquility they searched for. They show me the peace they’ve found after the suffering they experienced.

Their spirits are untainted, unblemished.

The door opens and Liam rushes to my side, pulling me into his arms. He doesn’t say a word as I shatter in his embrace, clutching onto his shirt.

The days' following Emily’s release from the hospital have had an odd sense of calmness. I panicked when I stepped into her room and saw her sobbing uncontrollably in her bed. She ended up falling asleep in my arms from exhaustion and I sat for hours stroking her hair until the doctor came in and said she was cleared to go home.

On the drive home, she shared that she was visited by multiple women she had seen during her time in captivity.

My emotions were all over the place when she explained how they shared the peace they found and the encouragement her spirit felt to keep going. To keep fighting.

She still has such a long road ahead of her and her addiction will always be something to work at, but I have all the faith in the world that she will make it through this.

It’s late in the evening when Emily and I finally come home. We had spent the entire day in the garden. We fell asleep under the shade of the trees after we had lunch, and it was absolutely amazing.

Emily steps out of the ensuite with a towel wrapped around her. Her red hair sits on the top of her head in a large messy bun.

I lie in bed and watch her go through her nightly ritual. We’ve settled into a comfortable routine. Declan has made it a point to have her things checked periodically for any hidden drugs. I don’t entirely approve of this method, but I understand his reasoning so, for now, I’m allowing it.

Once she’s finished, Emily comes to bed and lays her head on my chest. My fingers lightly caress the skin on her arm and goosebumps rise. Over the last few nights, we’ve been working on her fear of having the lights off when she sleeps.

Reaching over, I switch off the lamp on my nightstand. Emily tenses but remains in my arms. I softly play with the ends of her damp hair.

“You alright?” I whisper into the dark room.

Her head dips in a small nod but she remains silent. Her body shivers with tension and I wrap my arm tightly around her, pressing her against my body.

I keep my breaths even and feel her mimic them. Her body steadily begins to relax.

“Are you ready to turn your light off?” I ask and she tenses again. “I’m right here,Féileacán.You’re not alone.” I whisper, pressing a kiss on her head and stroking her hair.

Tentatively, she pulls away and leans over to shut her light off. When the room is cast into darkness with only the soft glow of the moon shining through the window, Emily burrows herself into my side.

Her shivers become trembles and her breathing shallows. Rubbing my hand up and down her arm, I whisper soothing and encouraging words until I feel the stiffness in her muscles dwindle.

“Talk to me,mo ghrá.”

“About what?” she asks softly.

I shrug. “Anything. Everything. It will help clear your mind and help distract you.”