It had been two days since the funeral.
Two days since my world completely shattered.
Since I last heard her voice say "Dinner's ready, sweetheart."
Since the blood soaked her shirt.
Since her eyes rolled back.
Since she smiled—possessed—while stabbing herself with a kitchen knife as if she were made of rubber and knives didn't hurt anymore.
And then fell… into my arms.
I sat on the edge of my bed.
Motionless.
Blank.
Breathing.
Existing.
That's all I was doing.
Existing.
The house was silent. My phone was flooded with messages I hadn't answered. Flowers arrived, notes were slipped under my door. Chloe texted twelve times. Peter called four.
I hadn't picked up once.
I hadn't cried.
Not at the hospital.
Not at the funeral.
Not when I saw her favorite cardigan in the laundry.
Not when I entered the kitchen and her chair was… still pulled out. Like she just got up.
I didn't even blink.
I just kept breathing.
And I hated myself for that.
Was I already gone too?
I heard the doorbell.
Then whispers.
Shuffling.
Voices in the living room.
I didn't care.
Until I heard Chloe's voice crack.
"Em?" she called. "Can we come in?"
I didn't answer.
But the door slowly creaked open anyway.
First, Chloe.
Then Peter.
Then Edward.
And finally, Liam. His eyes scanned every corner of my room like he was afraid I'd somehow vanished into the air.
They stepped in slowly, like I might break if they came too fast.
I stared at them.
They stared at me.
The silence sat heavy in the room.
"I know you don't want us here," Peter said softly, "but we had to see you."
I looked away.
"Emma," Chloe whispered, "this isn't you. You're not even… blinking."
"I'm fine," I said, voice like ice.
"You're not fine," Liam said, suddenly sharp.
That made me look up.
He knelt down beside me. "You haven't spoken to any of us in days. You didn't cry. You didn't scream. You didn't feel anything."
I swallowed. "What do you want me to feel, Liam? Huh?" My voice was brittle. "You want me to cry? Fall apart? Throw a plate at the wall? Would that make you feel better?!"
"No," he said calmly. "But it might help you."
I shook my head. "Crying won't bring her back."
"It won't," he said. "But if you keep this inside, it will destroy you."
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to scream at them to leave.
But instead—
I laughed.
I actually laughed.
It sounded foreign. Like I'd never heard myself laugh before.
"Destroy me?" I said, voice rising, hands trembling. "She's dead, Liam. My mom. The one person who made me soup when I was sick. Who cried more than I did when I got my period for the first time. Who still bought birthday candles shaped like numbers even though I turned sixteen. And you think I'm not destroyed?!"
They stared.
"I am ruined," I said, standing up like something had snapped. "I haven't even looked in the mirror because I know the person I'll see doesn't even look like me anymore!"
I clutched my chest, breathing sharp, heart beating like a drum in my ears.
Peter stepped forward. "Emma—"
"I saw her smile before she died!" I screamed, shaking. "What kind of sick joke is that?! I held her in my arms as her blood soaked through my shirt—and she SMILED!"
Tears hit my cheeks like bullets. Hard. Relentless.
I dropped to the floor.
Finally breaking.
Chloe ran to me.
Peter knelt beside her.
Edward looked like he couldn't breathe.
And Liam…
Liam didn't say anything.
He just sat with me.
He reached out and wrapped his arms around me, pressing my head against his chest, letting me sob like the child I felt like. His hands moved slowly through my hair, grounding me while my entire body broke into thousands of trembling pieces.
"It's okay," he whispered. "Let it out, baby. Just let it out."
"I want her back," I sobbed into his chest. "I don't want magic. I don't want rituals. I just want my mom!"
"I know."
"Please," I whispered, throat raw. "I don't care if I burn in hell. I just want one more morning where she makes tea. Where she calls me her sweetheart and forgets my school timings. I want that back. Please."
I was gasping now."I shouted in my highest voice, please bring her back please, just bring her back please, I have lost everything, everything.
Wheezing." I should die, I shou....ld just die. It's my fault it is my fault, I have ruined everything I just should di.....e."
I run for a knive but Peter stops me and Liam holds me back.
Screaming in my mind. I shout very loud my voice gone. "Mom, I know you aren't dead, the hospital made me fool, I am coming to get you."
Peter looked at me" Emma she isn't here anymore"
I shouted crying " You think I don't know that, wht do you think I am, I know that just i don't know... what to do Peter, I should just die and just pay for what I have done. I have killed her with my own hands. Everytime I look at my hands it's bl...oood fucking blood everywhere, telling me everytime that I fucking killed her."
Chloe cried too, holding my hand.
Peter watched me, eyes broken with guilt.
Edward left the room to cry in silence.
And I...
I shattered.
Right there.
No spells.
No magic.
Just a girl.
On the floor.
Begging to rewind time.
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