Chapter 10 - Forever Is An Eternity
The sunlight was streaming into the room. Tired eyes opened...Looking around the room...Trying to focus...She felt like she'd been asleep for months. Erica sat up slowly and looked around the room and saw Emily sitting next to the bed fast asleep...Emily stirred a little and her eyes opened and saw Erica staring back at her. Emily jumped up and said, "How are you feeling?" Erica said, "Hungry." Emily smiled brightly and said, "That's always a good sign." Erica said, "What happened Jake told me you and Sam were fighting." Emily said, "Yea...I left him...Jaci offered for me to stay with her so I took her up on it." Erica's face fell and said, "What do you mean you left him?"
Emily's smile cracked and said, "He phased on me in the kitchen, because he couldn't find you and he was blaming me because I didn't let him go after you when you took off." Erica said, "Are you serious? What the hell do you mean he phased on you again?" Emily said, "There's no use in you getting mad or upset...He didn't hurt me...Well not physically at least...I think it's for the best really...I'll just have to force myself...I realized what Sam was when I accepted his proposal...but I didn't think he was going to turn on me twice when bad times came running amuck."
Emily sighed heavily and continued, "I mean once yea, but twice...he knew he was getting pissed and stood there...I asked him to calm down but he didn't...then he freakin' cornered me...I threw dishes at him and yelled at him to leave...I can't do it anymore Erica...I love him, but what happens if we have a bad fight and he can't stop himself...I knew he was a monster when I fell in love with him...but I just can't do it anymore...I don't feel safe here anymore. Especially when the anger is direct towards me. And I didn't even do anything."
Erica moved over and wrapped her arms around Emily and said, "It's okay Em...I'll help him I promise..." Emily wiped the stray tears and said, "It's okay Erica...if he wants to change he will...you can't force him...and you can't fix him either. Listen if he gets to be too much of a bear to live with...Jaci said she's got another spare room." Erica giggled and said, "Don't you worry about me...I can handle my brother." Emily gave Erica one more hug and then walked out of the bedroom and down the hallway...Sam was standing in the front doorway looking out...Jacob, Paul and Jaci were sitting at the kitchen table waiting to hear something on Erica...
Sam heard Emily walked into the kitchen as she picked up her keys and purse and shared a knowing look with Jaci and walked under Sam's arm and down the porch...Sam followed her and said, "Em...Please talk to me." Emily said, "It was never about me not talking to you Samuel...It's about control...Which you have none of...I would think after the first mistake you made, it would never happen again...but you had to find someone to blame...I guess it might as well have been me...I'm not part of the family." Sam felt his heart fall into his stomach as he said, "Emily...You're my whole life...How could you say you're not part of the family?" Emily said, "Think about it Sam...How long have we been planning to get married and we haven't done it yet...I've practically been waiting my whole life to be your wife...I want to have kids...I want to grow old with you on the porch with grand kids...I want to die with you Sam...Do you get it now? Because I honestly don't think you'll ever get it."
Emily left and Sam went back inside...Erica had dressed and walked out into the kitchen and came face to face with Sam...Sam walked over to his sister and was going to pull her into his arms, just glad to see she was awake...3 seconds later every one heard the smack while Sam felt the sting on his cheek. Sam said, "What the hell Erica?" Erica glared at her brother and said, "You know something...I lost my faith in you big brother. I lost my faith in everything we stand for...Were supposed to be protecting people who for all intense purposes cannot protect themselves. And you completely went against the balance of life and phased on your own fiancée twice...Not once...but twice...If you think she's ever going to trust you again...You're sadly mistaken...I hate to say this but you know I don't sugar coat anything...You may have lost Emily forever...Forever...Do you understand just how long forever is? It's an eternity."
Sam said, "I know I made a mistake Erica...What am I supposed to do...She chose to leave...I didn't throw her out." Erica said, "You go after her...You prove to her that you're never going to make another mistake as long as you live...You fight to keep her in your life...And then...You marry her already...That's all she's ever wanted from you...She's never asked you for a damn thing...How long have you guys been engaged?" Sam said, "4 years." Erica rolled her eyes and said, "Do you love Emily?" Sam said, "You know I do." Erica said, "Just yes or no." Sam sighed heavy and said, "Yes." Erica said, "And you want to be with her forever...she's it for you right?" Sam said, "Yea of course." Erica said, "Then what the hell are you waiting for?
Sam looked at the floor...What the hell was he waiting for? He was gonna keep stalling and he would end up losing Emily forever...That was...If he hadn't already. Sam kissed his sisters forehead and left. Jaci ran over and practically tackled Erica to the floor as Paul and Jacob laughed at them. Erica whispered, "So I guess things are going good with you and Paul?" Jaci smiled and said, "It's good yea...I never knew the hothead had a romantic bone in his body...Boy was I ever wrong." Erica laughed and said, "That's so great." They got up and Paul said, "C'mon we've got reservations." Paul took her hand and she said, "I'll call you later." Erica said, "Okay...I'll leave my phone on." As they walked out and closed the door behind them.
Erica smiled at Jake as she pushed her hands into her back pockets, Jake was leaning against the wall near the door. Erica said, "So..." Jake smiled back and said, "So..."