09-05-2025, 04:51 PM
Emily smiled at his response. She sensed a genuineness in it. She sincerely hoped he would accept her offer. If not, Jensen knew the extent of Emily’s gratitude. Jensen departed quietly and she wished him a Merry Christmas regardless of whether or not he returned the next day.
Emily turned to face Rachel. Her eyes were bright and full of life again. Rachel met her gaze and gave a smile. A real smile - not one of the fake ones she had been giving the last couple of weeks to try to convince everyone she was okay. Emily went to her and wrapped her in a hug as she started to cry again.
Rachel hugged her back. ”You have no idea how amazing it is to see you smile again,”
Rachel squeezed her tighter. ”And you have no idea how amazing it feels to smile again.”
The pair held each other. The house felt so peaceful now. The weight of their situation was gone. It was Rachel yawning that separated them. ”You’ve been through a lot. Your body and mind need to rest.”
Rachel nodded. Her eyes were still bright, but she did look tired. Emily could sense that she wanted to stay up and talk for a while, but she saw the wisdom in taking this time to sleep. ”Okay - I’ll go to sleep.”
Emily gave her another hug. ”Good night. I love you sis.”
Rachel mumbled back her goodnight and love then headed into her bed and covered herself in the blanket. Emily took a seat in the chair by the bed. She’d stay until Rachel was asleep. It didn’t take long. Soon enough, Rachel’s breathing slowed to a sleeping pace. Emily smiled. Rachel looked so peaceful now. Before, even in sleep, she’d looked stressed and she had twitched as if having nightmares. She probably had been.
”Sweet dreams, Rachel” Emily said, kissing her on the forehead. ”Merry Christmas, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Emily turned to face Rachel. Her eyes were bright and full of life again. Rachel met her gaze and gave a smile. A real smile - not one of the fake ones she had been giving the last couple of weeks to try to convince everyone she was okay. Emily went to her and wrapped her in a hug as she started to cry again.
Rachel hugged her back. ”You have no idea how amazing it is to see you smile again,”
Rachel squeezed her tighter. ”And you have no idea how amazing it feels to smile again.”
The pair held each other. The house felt so peaceful now. The weight of their situation was gone. It was Rachel yawning that separated them. ”You’ve been through a lot. Your body and mind need to rest.”
Rachel nodded. Her eyes were still bright, but she did look tired. Emily could sense that she wanted to stay up and talk for a while, but she saw the wisdom in taking this time to sleep. ”Okay - I’ll go to sleep.”
Emily gave her another hug. ”Good night. I love you sis.”
Rachel mumbled back her goodnight and love then headed into her bed and covered herself in the blanket. Emily took a seat in the chair by the bed. She’d stay until Rachel was asleep. It didn’t take long. Soon enough, Rachel’s breathing slowed to a sleeping pace. Emily smiled. Rachel looked so peaceful now. Before, even in sleep, she’d looked stressed and she had twitched as if having nightmares. She probably had been.
”Sweet dreams, Rachel” Emily said, kissing her on the forehead. ”Merry Christmas, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”