Emma was jolted awake after falling asleep on the long drive home.
"You okay? Another bad dream?" Paige asked, concerned.
"No, it's just hard to sleep comfortably in a car." Emma explained. As she looked out the window, she realized they weren't on the way home. This didn't look familiar at all.
"Where are we? Did the map get left behind?" Emma asked, confused.
"We're taking a detour, there's something you should see… I really think it's going to help." As Paige explained, she pulled her car into a parking lot of a convenience store.
"I will be right back, trust me about this" Paige said as she parked the car and went inside.
Emma looked around, this didn't look like a very friendly area. Emma sighed, annoyed at the litter in the parking lot.
Paige returned a few minutes later. She offered Emma a bottle of water from the bag which contained another item Emma couldn't make out. Emma wasn't sure how she should feel about this detour, she trusted Paige but she couldn't get rid of the foreboding feeling.
Sometime later they stopped at their destination and Emma felt her chest tighten, they were at a cemetery. It seemed unkept and in need of repairs. As they exited the car, Paige retrieved the other item from the bag, Emma realizing it was a spray paint can. Paige took Emma through the giant plot of land. The sun was still out but it was slowly setting, the sky streaked with red like blood splatters. Despite the heat of the day, the wind seemed chilly in an unnatural way, Emma hoped it was just her mind playing tricks.
They arrived at one spot all the way in the opposite end of the area at one particular headstone that seemed separate from the others. The area was particularly dirty with discarded cigarettes and beer cans that gave off a horrible smell. The headstone itself was covered in angry messages but there was enough that she could still make out the name: Rick Murray.
Emma gasped before backing away from the grave. "Why did you bring me here?" She whimpered to Paige feeling betrayed.
"You need to confront this. I promise this will help." She said, stern but kindly.
"Is this what you did when you were dealing with Dean?" Emma asked, curious but still nervous.
"No,but Dean I...may have wrecked his car." Paige replied, embarrassed but coy. "But even if Rick were alive and driving, I still wouldn't recommend that exactly, because of it I'm stuck getting a job and paying Spinner back."
"Did it help at all?" Emma asked, more curious now and feeling the tension lighten up
"Surprisingly yes, but it's not the healthiest or safest way of dealing with it. Maybe this might work" Paige stated.
"So what do I do exactly?" Emma asked, interested.
"Whatever you want. You want to scream, kick his headstone or tell him off for everything he's done. If you want to use this, use it." Paige said, handing her the spray paint can and taking a step back. "Do whatever you need to to take back control. I'll be right over here if you need me, I'll give you some privacy and keep watch."
Paige watched from a distance as Emma stared back at the headstone. She could see Emma's mouth moving occasionally before she seemed to stop. Paige was beginning to wonder if this was for the best or if she should have bought that hammer at the store.
Emma's mind didn't know what to do. Everytime she tried to start talking she stammered, not sure of the point of this or what to say. This should have been easy, this was the guy who caused her so much trauma, she had the tools right on her. Emma fell to her knees in front of the spot letting out the most primal scream Paige had ever heard. Paige rushed over to her, pulling her into an embrace. This was maybe not a good idea after all.
"It's okay I'm here for you." Paige said, trying to comfort her.
"After everything he's done, I should feel happy he's gone. Why does he still have this hold on me?" Emma sobbed, the old trauma awakened. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Paige didn't have any answer. She felt incredibly guilty and not just for bringing her here. This whole thing happened because of her and Emma and their anti Rick campaign but if not for her getting Terri drunk at the dance and stealing Spinner she wouldn't have been with Rick, who wouldn't have hurt her and lead to this.
Eventually Emma's sobs stopped. She stood up slowly, walking over to the headstone with the paint can. Emma began shaking it hard and then she began to spray the entire thing in black paint covering up the other graffiti and hateful words until it was all black. The words carved into the rock were the only things still visible. Paige watched, awestruck at this.
At first Emma turned to walk away before stopping, she had a determined face and then turned around walking back to the stone.
"Sean and I are going to raise them..." she said, softly through tears. Her voice was sounding like a combination of upset and anger. "...maybe me and him will work out, I don't know. But regardless whoever it's with or whatever happens...these babies...there's no reason for them to know who you were. They won't even know your name."
She turned and walked back over to Paige.
"I'm sorry for bringing you here, I really thought it would help..." Paige started but Emma cut her off.
"It's okay, I think I actually do feel better. I don't know if it was seeing the proof he's gone or just getting to say what I needed but I feel lighter and better now." Emma said, feeling true peace for the first time in months.
"I'm glad I could help." Paige said, relieved.
The sunlight was almost completely gone as they returned to the car. While the drive there had been mostly quiet the drive back was livelier. They discussed plans for the rest of the summer such as Paige and her new job she was starting soon while Emma talked about her conversation with Sean from that morning.
"So you actually hit his car?" Emma asked, interested in the story.
"Yeah not my best idea but at the moment it felt so good. Then he tried to turn me in but I beat him to that. I told him that a good person admits when they do something wrong" Paige recalled.
"Do you remember that day in the bathroom? I asked if I was going to end up like you? I want you to know I hope I do, You're awesome." Emma said, confidently.
Paige didn't know how to reply, she wasn't used to praise like this but she knew Emma genuinely meant it. The Terri sabotage still lingered in her mind.
"Hey you're not so bad yourself, I've been here since the beginning of this with you and despite everything you've had to deal with you're still going." Paige said.
Emma just smiled blushing slightly as Paige continued.
"Remember it's still a process, this won't be an instant fix to it all but it's still a big step."
As Paige dropped her off at home, Emma headed down to her bedroom. She messaged Sean, sending him the pictures Ellie had taken, impatiently waiting for him to reply.
Sean: wow look at you!
She texted back excitedly to tell him about her day and how she felt.
Author's note : so this was another chapter I been excited to write. Hope you like it. Also I may have few ideas for names for Emma's children but nothing it set in stone. If anyone has any ideas they want to pitch I'm open.