“Is this real?” I wondered. For someone about to have his head cut off, Ethan looked too comfortable.
“Stop this, Ethan!” I yelled, sitting down opposite him. “Please stop playing games with me. Just let me go, please,” I pleaded, hating how easily everything he did affected me.
“This is me letting you go, Emily,” Ethan said, his voice suddenly serious. I had almost forgotten how intense he could get. “I promise you, this isn’t a game. I really want to pay for my crimes.”
His words tightened something in my chest. “Why?” I asked, my eyes filling with tears. Despite everything, I didn’t want the man I loved to end up in prison.
“Because I deserve it,” he replied, his tone all business.
“No, you don’t,” I said, my voice cracking. “You’ve done so many good things too.” But Ethan only gave me a faint smile.
“I love you, Emily. With all my heart. And I really hope you find someone who loves you as much as I do,” Ethan said, his words feeling like a final goodbye. “Someone good and kind, someone who’ll treat you right.”
Tears streamed down my face. “Don’t say that. You’re the one I want,” I whispered, reaching out to touch him, but he withdrew his hand. As if on cue, a police officer appeared behind me.
“You’re not allowed to touch the criminal, ma’am,” the officer said sternly.
My brows furrowed. “He’s not a criminal!” I yelled, glaring at the officer, who frowned back.
“Please, Ethan,” I begged, turning back to him. “Tell them you made a mistake, say it was a false confession. Let’s just go home, please.”
But Ethan shook his head, slowly getting to his feet. “I’m sorry, Emily. Goodbye.” His words were firm, final, as the officer moved closer, ready to escort him out of the visiting hall.
“No!” I cried, my voice breaking. “Please! I love you too, and I want to be with you!” But it was too late. He was already out of sight.
I stood frozen, tears streaming down my cheeks, until a familiar voice broke the silence.
“You know, you’re the reason he’s in here,” Maxwell said coldly, as if I didn’t already know that. As if I didn’t feel the crushing guilt.
“And he’s not going to change his mind now that he’s started this,” Maxwell added.
I shook my head frantically. “He has to. I need him to,” I whispered, but Maxwell just ignored me.
“My advice? Move on. Ethan would want you to be happy,” Maxwell said. His words felt like knives twisting in my chest.
“What?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Maxwell nodded, guiding me back to the car.
*****
After leaving the station, I tried to bury myself in work, but no matter how hard I focused, I couldn’t get the image of Ethan in that jumpsuit out of my mind.
“Are you okay?” Denise asked, walking into my office. I was tired of that question. Everyone wanted to know if I was okay, and of course, I wasn’t.
I looked up at her, tears silently streaming down my face. “What do you think?” I asked.
She just nodded, then turned to the door, motioning to someone outside. “You can come in now.”
I watched as Jennifer, Rose, and Irene walked into the room, their faces filled with concern. Jennifer stepped forward, her arms outstretched. “Sweetheart,” she said softly. “I’m so sorry.”
I furrowed my brows, trying to keep it together. Why was everyone apologizing to me? Ethan was the one in prison.
“My dad told me you tried to talk him out of it,” Jennifer said, pulling me into a hug.
“I did,” I whispered.
After minutes of her warm embrace, She pulled back, smiling faintly.
I started at her, wondering “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?” I asked
Jennifer shrugged. “I couldn’t leave you alone. I flew back this morning.”
I tried to smile, but it was weak. “Thank you,” I murmured, glancing around at all of them through my tear-clouded vision.
“Let’s go out, get your mind off this,” Irene suggested, and I nodded. I needed a distraction.
“I know the perfect place,” Rose chimed in.
****
Rose took us to a private, women-only cinema, a cozy dark room with snacks and drinks that gave off slumber party vibes. We drank, ate, watched movies, and gossiped, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan.
“The man I love is going to prison,” the thought echoed in my head.
“Come on, Em,” Jennifer said, noticing my tears. “You need to move on.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t convinced. “Thanks for being here,” I said, looking around at the women I had grown to love over the past few years. “But right now, all I want is for Ethan to be out of there.”
Irene sighed. “We know how much you love him, Em. But he made his choice. You need to move on.”
If he had chosen another woman, maybe I could. But he chose prison. How was I supposed to move on from the guilt of being the reason he was there?
“You know how much I love him?” I asked, wondering if they really understood.
“We do, Em,” Denise said softly.
“Then he has to know that his decision is hurting me,” I said, feeling a surge of anger toward Ethan. Why was he doing this? “He’s such a jerk!” I cried.
The women nodded in agreement, though I wasn’t sure if they really meant it or were just saying what I wanted to hear.
“Yes, Emily, but you know who isn’t a jerk?” Jennifer said, her voice gentle.
I shook my head.
“Jason,” Rose added. “And he loves you.”
Jennifer continued, “I called you earlier because I thought you could change Ethan’s mind, but he’s already decided. Now it’s your turn to move on.” Jennifer said.
I shook my head, frustrated. How could they expect me to just move on so easily?