07-24-2025, 02:21 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-24-2025, 02:23 AM by Emily Shale-Vanders.)
Natalie’s prompt wasn’t surprising. The two women gelled really well, and Emily was generally easy to read on top of that. Her prompt was simply the word “but” and a meeting of the eyes. It was enough for Emily to know not only had Natalie picked up on her unease, but that she cared enough to listen.
Emily’s hands moved to her glass, pulling it closer to her on the table, a gesture meant simply to give her hands something to do. Emily sighed, contemplating how much to say. It wasn’t shame. She just didn’t want Natalie to think she had gone crazy. But Natalie had seen a lot, and she knew that Emily wasn’t one to make up stories. Still - people that could control emotions. That was a lot too.
Emily took a deep breath. ”But…Rachel’s not well. She…”” Emily paused, sorting through her thoughts. ”Broke up with her boyfriend - took it really hard. Someone found her and began to take advantage of her pain. He could - I know this sounds crazy - manipulate her emotions. Make her feel what he wanted her to feel.” Emily’s tone began to shift, ever so slightly, to anger. Just the thought of Lucio Pirrozi angered her, but she kept her anger in check. ”She had been acting a little strange. We thought it was the breakup. Apparently this was a part of his manipulations too. She’s away from him now, but he broke her.”
Emily sighed, keeping the anger from rising. Her tone became softer. ”Most people wake up and feel - normal. Rachel - she’s scared. All the time. Like her default emotions have been reset. We’ve been told it’s like a drug. She’s addicted to him. In time, she’ll be fine, but it’s hard going. Small glimpses of her true self come through, but it’s short and infrequent. Problem is she doesn’t see herself getting better, and I’m worried that she’s going to give up.”
Emily picked up her glass and took a long drink of water. She actually felt a little better recognizing that she was worried about the situation. It wasn’t pity Emily needed. It wasn’t even assurances that things would be okay. She just needed to admit that she was upset about this.
Emily gave Natalie a sheepish grin. ”Sorry to lay all that on you. Probably wasn’t what you expected to hear,” she sighed. ”But thank you for the little push to talk about it.”
Emily’s hands moved to her glass, pulling it closer to her on the table, a gesture meant simply to give her hands something to do. Emily sighed, contemplating how much to say. It wasn’t shame. She just didn’t want Natalie to think she had gone crazy. But Natalie had seen a lot, and she knew that Emily wasn’t one to make up stories. Still - people that could control emotions. That was a lot too.
Emily took a deep breath. ”But…Rachel’s not well. She…”” Emily paused, sorting through her thoughts. ”Broke up with her boyfriend - took it really hard. Someone found her and began to take advantage of her pain. He could - I know this sounds crazy - manipulate her emotions. Make her feel what he wanted her to feel.” Emily’s tone began to shift, ever so slightly, to anger. Just the thought of Lucio Pirrozi angered her, but she kept her anger in check. ”She had been acting a little strange. We thought it was the breakup. Apparently this was a part of his manipulations too. She’s away from him now, but he broke her.”
Emily sighed, keeping the anger from rising. Her tone became softer. ”Most people wake up and feel - normal. Rachel - she’s scared. All the time. Like her default emotions have been reset. We’ve been told it’s like a drug. She’s addicted to him. In time, she’ll be fine, but it’s hard going. Small glimpses of her true self come through, but it’s short and infrequent. Problem is she doesn’t see herself getting better, and I’m worried that she’s going to give up.”
Emily picked up her glass and took a long drink of water. She actually felt a little better recognizing that she was worried about the situation. It wasn’t pity Emily needed. It wasn’t even assurances that things would be okay. She just needed to admit that she was upset about this.
Emily gave Natalie a sheepish grin. ”Sorry to lay all that on you. Probably wasn’t what you expected to hear,” she sighed. ”But thank you for the little push to talk about it.”