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"She's doing well, really, Spike," Manny assured. She gave Emma a look, offering her the phone. Emma shook her head, exiting the room. Manny sighed. "Listen, Spike, I'm taking very good care of her, okay? You and Snake should just try to enjoy your vacation. You don't have to call every day, or twice a day! If Emma were here, you could talk to her, but she's not. Where? Um, she's at work. Well, you know her. Work, work, work! I will tell her that you called, again, and have her call you back. Okay. You too. Bye."

Manny hung up the phone, feeling exhausted from her latest conversation with Emma's mother. She grit her teeth and gathered in a large breath. "Emma!" she yelled.

Emma slinked her way back into the living room, smiling slightly at her friend. "You called?"

"And so has your mother! Like, twenty times, in the past three days! Will you tell me why you won't talk to her?" Manny asked, feeling drained as she plopped back against the fluffy pillows of the couch.

Emma shrugged. "It's been six months, Manny. I've been a widow for six whole months, and my parents act like I'm going to crack at any moment. Why do you think I paid to send them away on this trip? It's to get them out of my hair and for them to stop asking me if I'm okay! I know her concern comes out of love, but she's driving me crazy. Talking to her makes me dredge up things that are better left to rest. I know that I'm being a sucky friend and an even suckier daughter, but I just need some space from all that mourning. Please tell me that you understand?"

Manny pulled Emma into a hug. "I'm happy to hear you say that you're getting on with things. I know that you miss Sean like crazy, but I do think you're right; wallowing in grief has its time, but that time has passed. And with such a great roommate like me, well how can one stand to be depressed?"

Emma shook her head, rolling her eyes at her friend. As Manny got to her feet, heading off to her bedroom, Emma looked around her living room. Manny had moved in to the small apartment within a month of Sean's passing. Emma couldn't admit it at the time, but she loved having Manny around, especially in those early days. Manny just had a way of being there, without making her presence annoying. Emma wished it could be Sean she was sharing this apartment with, but Manny was definitely not a bad consolation prize!

Emma sighed, resting her head back on the pillows. She stared at the wall in front of her, at the 11x16 black and white photo. Sean had never looked more handsome than he did that day, his black tuxedo fit perfectly to his frame. Emma, not a hair out of place, her strapless dress needing to be taken in two days before the wedding. Emma smiled, staring at the picture, remembering how happy she had been that day.

FLASHBACK

"I do," Sean said, a smile upon his lips.

Emma stared up at Sean with relief, almost like she thought, for a brief second, that he would say he didn't. She let out a shaky breath, as the priest mentioned something about rings.

Manny's hand appeared on Emma's arm, bringing her back to reality. Emma smiled her thanks to her best friend, accepting the gold band that Manny was offering.

They exchanged rings, saying words that Emma couldn't remember now if she tried, and then they were presented to the church as man and wife. They shared a chaste, but loving kiss, sealing their bond with the traditional measure of intimacy.

END OF FLASHBACK

Emma continued to stare at the picture, thinking about how things were back then. Only eleven months ago. Emma eyes teared. Eleven months and already a widow. Why had things played out this way?

Emma was only three days out of university and her life, which she normally liked to see so well-mapped-out, was in utter chaos. Graduation, interviews for jobs, apartment shopping, showers, and of course, last-minute preparation for her wedding. Exciting? Yes. Crazy? Obviously!

And how things had managed to go so smoothly, Emma would never know. But she was thankful. Her parents had thrown a small, intimate gathering, to celebrate her recent graduation from the University of Toronto. After approximately ten successful interviews with various companies, Emma accepted a job, based in Toronto, with the Ministry of the Environment. Surprisingly enough, Sean and Emma found their perfect apartment after seeing only seven horrible ones! Manny, Emma's wonderful maid of honour, used her penchant for style to plan and execute the perfect bridal shower! And all that help, left Emma just enough time to prepare for her dream wedding!

But, after only two months of wedded bliss, Emma's perfect life came crashing down. Sean was called for duty and given orders to ship out to Iraq. They called it peace keeping, but Emma, still very much anti-war, knew different. Sean would be dodging bullets and suicide car-bombers. He would be putting his life in danger. Emma begged him not to go. Sean, committed to being a soldier in every sense of the word, kissed his wife and tried to make her understand, as best he could, that this was something he not only had to do, but wanted and was proud to do.

Emma rubbed her teary eyes with the back of her hand, wondering why she was choosing now to reminisce, given that she'd just told Manny she was okay and moving forward.

But she couldn't help remembering the day Sean left. He would fly out from Toronto to Halifax, where he would meet with the rest of his troop. Emma clung to him, for as long as she could, hoping that she'd be able to carry this feeling, of his strong arms around her, until he came back.

And then a memory... One that Emma had forgotten. Something that had been so important then, but now? Was it still important?

FLASHBACK

"I love you, Emma," Sean whispered into her ear. "And I will be home in a few months. And then we'll work on that baby we want, okay?"

END OF FLASHBACK

Emma had almost forgotten. A baby? Their baby. She had wanted that so badly and then she'd lost Sean. Did that mean she'd lost her chances for the baby she so desperately wanted too?