I remember how she was when she lost Sara. She was almost catatonic. I can’t let her go through that again. But then Rio reminds me that there is nothing I can do to help her. I spend every waking moment by her side just like before only now, she never moves. She doesn’t cry. She doesn’t do anything.
So now when Ms. Charlotte cries, I feed her. I have the grocery store deliver food although I know Emmy won’t eat. She looks pale and weak so I buy her vitamins, even though I’m sure she won’t take them. I’ve taken to straightening up her apartment when she’s asleep.
Jay enters the apartment and observes me with a sense of wonder.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I’ma be real with you, I’ve seen you put your life in danger for Emmy many times. But I have never seen a guy, Angel or human, dust his girl’s apartment. That’s love, man.”
“She’s not my girl anymore,” I lament.
“She know you come in here and do this?”
“No, when she’s awake, I take a Snap and disappear.”
“Words out everywhere: You and Ameana are back together.”
“Good.”
“Wolf hates you.”
“I get that.”
“And Rio’s been staying away from this place.”
“Emmy’s emotions are that strong?”
“Marcus, she made
it rain blue. This from a girl with no powers.”
“Where’s Rio?”
“Since the rain, he’s been on the other side of the world. You know how it is for him when someone feels only one thing. He feels the full extent of that. Sometimes it’s more than he can handle. Only way he could function is to get some distance. Emmy’s pain is so concentrated—”
“I know about her pain, Jay.”
“My bad,” he says, walking off.
I text Miku and tell her to take credit should Emmy ask who did it. Miku tells me I should stay away. She says it’s unhealthy for me to watch Emmy suffer. She thinks it’s a way of torturing myself. I don’t know if she’s right or not. I’m not sure it matters. I’m not sure anything matters really.
Days later, after feeding Ms. Charlotte, I walk into the room, invisible as usual, and find Emmy on the phone. It’s only now I realize how much I miss hearing her voice. Does this mean she’s okay now?
Are you okay after only a few days?
I ask myself. But this is different. Emmy is strong. In many ways, she’s stronger than me. She just doesn’t know it. I listen carefully to her conversation.
“No, not later. I need to see you now. Please, Rio?”
She waits for his response.
“Great. Thank you!” She puts the phone down and bites her lip. I know what she wants to ask him. She’s about to be hurt yet again.
Damn…
Half an hour later, Rio comes over to Emmy’s apartment. He knows I’m there because he reads my Waves in the room.
“I’m thinking maybe Marcus is under some kind of spell. Ya know like something someone found at the Market?”
“He’s not,” Rio says gently.
“How do you know?”
“The Market doesn’t really deal with matters of love.”
“Oh. Maybe he’s just afraid because we won’t be able to spend more than a day together. And maybe he doesn’t want me to be alone.”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
“He loves Ameana.”
“Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Does he have any feelings for me?”
“He cares about you—a lot.”
“You know what I mean.”
“No, he doesn’t love you anymore.”
“Thank you for being honest with me, Rio.”
Rio takes her hand and sits beside her in bed.
“How are you?” he asks her.
“Don’t you know already?”
“Yeah. But it’s rude not to ask.”
“I’m okay. You guys are sweet to bring me food and stuff. Thank you.”
He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything.
“I feel so…unwanted.”
“You’re not unwanted. We love you. You know what an unbelievably great person you are, right? You helped save billions of lives.”
“Yeah.”
“C’mon, let me take you out.”
“Another time,” she says, as she crawls back into bed.
Rio heads out the door. I appear before him in the hallway.
“Marcus, it’s not fair to her. Let the girl grieve in peace,” Rio insists.
“I just want her to be okay.”
“Well, that’s not gonna happen. You broke her heart. I know the reasons you did it. That doesn’t change the fact that she has to go through this. Give the girl some privacy. Damn.”