“Yeah, it was.”
Emma tugged her shorts back on, slipped on her flip-flops, Branch dressed then draped an arm around Emma’s neck, and yanked her close in a form of headlock. “You owe me crawlers.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She said and knocked her hip into him to get him to release her. “One of these days I’m going to beat you.”
“No chance.” Branch said, pulling out his lucky rabbit’s foot and dangling it in front of her. “But I’ll enjoy watching you try.”
Her hair was starting to dry, sticking out all over her head. Blowing a strand from her face, she reached for his arm and wrapped her hand around it before she said, “You’re going to eat those words one day, Branch McKenna. You just wait. One day, I’ll come first.”
Emma stood so still, her feet pinched in the black shoes she wore. The rain hadn’t stopped pouring down on them, as black umbrellas dotted the landscape. It was the same scene she’d witnessed too many times in the last week. It was ironic how in the midst of a downpour, she was dry inside, all cried out.
She tried to remember the happier days, the carefree adventures that had been her life up until the day a week ago when everything changed. An arm dropped on her shoulders, a warm body molded to hers. She rested her head on Branch’s chest. She was wrong about the tears, they welled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. How fast your life could change. They were only twelve, but the weight of grief that burdened them was enough to make grown-ups crumble. She wanted to crumble, wanted to lose herself to the pain of loss, to the confusion, the fear, and the anger. She wanted to scream and rage, she wanted to run, far away. She wanted Branch to come with her.
“It’s going to be okay, Em.” Branch whispered but she heard it in his broken voice. He didn’t know that for sure but tried to give them both reassurance.
“I can’t believe…” Her words died on a sob.
“I can’t either.” Branch’s hold on her tightened.
Her wet eyes looked into his bright ones. “It hurts. Just breathing hurts.”
A tear rolled down his cheek. “I know.”
“I can’t lose you too.” Her voice trailed off.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He sounded like an adult at that moment, the conviction in his voice had Emma believing that they’d have each other. That they would get through this horror together, but life had other plans.
Branch fisted his hands, his eyes burned as he helped Emma load her aunt’s car. It was only a few weeks since the day that changed everything and Emma was leaving. Her aunt was moving her to Georgia. He stood there helpless as he watched his best friend preparing to drive out of his life.
He could see it was killing her too. Confirmed when she said, “I don’t want to go.”
He wanted to be strong for her. His voice was more hopeful than he felt. “We’ll stay in touch.”
“Promise.” Emma searched his face, the pain he saw there mirrored his own.
“I promise.” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out, taking her hand and pressing it into her palm. She looked down at his rabbit’s foot. His voice broke when he said, “You keep it.”
She couldn’t stop the sob that ripped from her throat before she threw her arms around him. “I’m going to miss you.”
He held her close, letting his own tears fall when he whispered, “I’ll miss you more.”
He stood in the street watching her go, her tear-soaked face looking back at him from the rear window. He stayed there long after the car disappeared. His childhood went with her.
2001
Branch had just exited the train, backpack slung over his shoulder, he scanned the area with a smile on his face. It’d been too long since he saw Emma; his excitement had his stomach growling as he forgot to eat that morning, in a rush to make it to the station in time. He told his aunt and uncle he would get something to eat on the train, what he didn’t tell them was they didn’t offer anything.
He weaved through the crowd of people and… then he saw her. He’d seen pictures of her, but Branch stopped in his tracks. His Emma was growing into a beautiful woman; he knew that, saw it. Even felt it. But the sight of her had all the breath escaping his lungs.
Dressed in a pale pink sundress, her once frizzy brown hair looked like silk curling down her back and over her one shoulder. Wide whiskey brown eyes scanned the mob of travelers for him, that moment when she didn’t know he was watching her expression had his heart pounding. Excitement, anticipation, and love swept her face. He waited, his breath caught, just as her eyes connected with his. The smile was slow to form, but worth the wait, and then she was running. Not stopping until her body collided with his with enough force that if he hadn’t braced for her, they’d both be on the floor.
“Oh my God. You’re really here.” Her voice was breathless from the run. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”
Branch chuckled as he held Emma. “Didn’t spend days and nights stocking cans at the grocery store, saving my money for anything else but being here…” Branch paused and took in the sweet smell of her. “For your sixteenth birthday.”
Emma squeezed him before she pulled back and took in her friend. Not the same boy she had left back at Danville Creek. His faded jeans hung from narrow hips, all the stocking of cans brought definition to his chest and arms. Yeah, he was definitely not the same boy,
