Redwood had a way of pulling people together.
Even when they were trying to stay apart.
I noticed that the moment I walked into the cafeteria.
It was loud.
Crowded.
Normal.
And yet…
Everything felt off.
My eyes scanned the room.
Instinct.
Habit.
Maybe something else.
Ryan was at his usual table.
Center of attention.
Laughing. Talking.
Owning the room.
Emily sat beside him.
Perfect posture.
Perfect smile.
Perfect lie.
And then—
She looked at me.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Because in that moment…
Her smile faded.
Not completely.
Just enough for me to see the truth underneath.
She looked away first.
Of course she did.
"Man, you really like walking into chaos, don't you?"
I didn't need to turn around.
Noah dropped into the seat across from me, sliding his tray like nothing mattered.
"Thought I'd give everyone something to talk about," I replied.
He smirked.
"Trust me, they already are."
I leaned back slightly.
"Let me guess… rumors?"
"Not rumors," he said.
"More like… theories."
I raised an eyebrow.
"About?"
Noah hesitated.
Just for a second.
"About that night."
There it was again.
Always circling back.
"Funny," I said.
"Everyone talks about it… but no one actually says anything."
"Yeah," Noah muttered.
"That's kind of the point."
I studied him.
"You're scared."
He let out a quiet laugh.
"You really don't know when to stop, do you?"
"No," I said simply.
Silence.
Then—
"Some things don't just affect you, Lucas," he said.
"They affect everyone."
"Then maybe everyone deserves the truth."
"That's not how this works."
"Then how does it work?" I pushed.
He looked at me.
Tired.
"It works by pretending it never happened."
I shook my head.
"That's not living."
"No," he said quietly.
"But it's surviving."
That hit.
Before I could respond—
"Lucas."
I turned.
Emily.
Standing there.
Close enough to matter.
Far enough to pretend it didn't.
"We need to talk," she said.
Noah leaned back.
"Oh, this should be good," he muttered, standing up.
"I'm gonna… not be here for this."
And just like that, he was gone.
Smart move.
I looked at Emily.
"About what?" I asked.
She glanced around.
People were watching.
Of course they were.
"Not here," she said.
Again.
Always somewhere hidden.
We walked outside.
The air was colder than I expected.
She stopped near the bleachers.
Empty.
Quiet.
"You need to stop," she said.
I frowned.
"Stop what?"
"This," she gestured.
"Coming back. Asking questions. Pushing people."
I stepped closer.
"Why?"
"Because it's going to end badly."
"For who?" I asked.
Her eyes met mine.
"For everyone."
I let out a slow breath.
"That's not a reason. That's fear."
"Maybe you should be afraid too," she shot back.
"Maybe I'm tired of being."
That stopped her.
Good.
"You don't understand what Ryan is capable of," she said.
There it was.
Finally.
"Then tell me," I said.
She hesitated.
"I can't."
"Or you won't?"
She looked away.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked instead.
"Because something happened," I said.
"And everyone is acting like I'm the only one who doesn't know the full story."
"You don't," she said quietly.
"Then help me."
She shook her head.
"I'm trying to protect you."
I laughed.
"Does it look like I need protection?"
"No," she said.
"You look like someone about to make the same mistake twice."
That hit deeper than I expected.
"What mistake?" I asked.
Silence.
Her lips parted slightly.
But no words came out.
"Emily," I said softer now.
She looked at me.
And for a second…
Everything else disappeared.
No Ryan.
No past.
No secrets.
Just us.
"You don't have to be afraid of me," I said.
"I'm not afraid of you," she whispered.
"Then what are you afraid of?"
She stepped back.
"That you'll remember," she said.
And just like that…
The moment was gone.
Footsteps approached.
Ryan.
Again.
His timing was almost perfect.
"Am I interrupting?" he asked.
Emily didn't answer.
I did.
"Yeah," I said.
"You are."
He smiled slightly.
"Good."
He looked at Emily.
"Let's go."
She hesitated.
Again.
Then followed him.
Again.
And I stood there.
Watching.
Again.
But this time…
Something was different.
Because now I knew one thing for sure—
They weren't just afraid of the truth.
They were afraid of me remembering it.
🖤 Poem — Emily
I stand between two worlds
one safe, one real
one where I survive
one where I feel
and the hardest part…
is choosing what to lose