Emma Swan stands in front of a body length mirror struggling to decide between a burgundy dress and a back one, both of similar cut. Something about the difficulty of the decision makes her feel foolish for even putting half as much effort as she is doing, just to go and study. But something within her keeps driving her to make the perfect decision.
She pulls the red dress on and puts the lipstick she'd chosen for the dress on. She twists her wrist and reads the time on her watch, 7.55AM. She moves towards where she hangs her jackets and bags and puts on her leather jacket on. She pulls her wavy blonde hair from her collar and reminds herself, again, to make an appointment with her trainee hairdresser friend Ella to have it trimmed. She picks up her book filled bag and leaves her room, unable to place where her butterflies are stemming from, nor can she forget the sense of silliness at her unusual effort in appearance.
Before she has reached the elevator at the end of the hall, she turns around and goes back to her room to change and decides to go straight to the library and forget about coffee today.
The morning has been busier than usual due to the time of semester and I can feel a cold coming on, but my shift ends soon and I know in five minutes I'll see Emma and for some unknown reason that makes the whole thing seem worth it.
The rest of the morning drags by slowly and by the time the clock above me has reached 8.45AM I'm struggling to conceal my disappointment. I pull the hair net from my tied back hair and put it in my locker with my cap and apron before changing into my clothes for school.
The ten minute walk from work to school seems longer and slower, as if my body hasn't slept for weeks and I can't help my face being a clear indicator of my mood.
My head is a mixture of embarrassment, disappointment and stupidity, and I can't help but think back to my internal monologue of the question of is loving anyone after having your heart broken possible. My mood hazes my thoughts and as I turn the corner and walk through the front doors of my college building I try to understand my feelings for this almost stranger, Emma Swan.
There has been a slight change in the arrangement of the story, so if you started reading before this chapter was published, go back and reread the first two chapters otherwise the read of the story won't make sense