Jeffrey heard his name before he saw her.
"Jeffrey?"
He stopped.
The forest was silent.
He turned slowly.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
Then—
"Jeffrey?"
This time, it came from between the trees.
His heart jumped.
"Emily?"
He pushed through the branches.
There she was.
Standing several yards away.
Emily.
Alive.
Jeffrey stared at her.
For a moment, he couldn't move.
She looked exactly the way he remembered her from the last time he'd seen her—except for the dirt on her clothes and the small scratches across her arms.
"Emily?"
She smiled.
"Jeffrey."
He ran toward her.
"Emily!"
She stepped backward.
"Wait."
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
She smiled again.
"You found me."
Jeffrey stopped.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
"Are you okay?"
Emily nodded.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I'm fine."
"Where have you been?"
Emily looked past him.
"Here."
"Here?"
She nodded.
"I've been waiting."
"For who?"
Her eyes returned to his.
"You."
