The Ghost from the Past

The moment Emma saw the woman standing in the doorway, her world seemed to shatter. Her legs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed to the ground in shock. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the woman's face — a face she knew all too well. It was the face that haunted her dreams, the face of the woman who had once been the love of David’s life.

A breathless, broken whisper escaped Emma’s lips as she called out, “Sister.”

Sophie, sensing the growing tension in the room, gave Emma a subtle glance before quietly excusing herself.

"Uh, I think I’ll just... give you two some space. Catch you later, Emma," she said, slipping out of the room without another word, leaving Emma standing frozen at the doorway.

The air in the room grew thick with awkwardness as Emma and her sister, Allison, stood facing each other. For a moment, neither spoke, the silence hanging heavily between them. Then, finally, Allison took a small step forward, her smile gentle as she opened her arms.

"Emma," she said softly, her eyes glinting with a mixture of warmth and something else Emma couldn’t quite place. "Look at you. You've grown so much... and so beautiful, too."

Emma swallowed hard, the words catching in her throat. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she'd seen her sister. But here she was, standing before her, smiling as if nothing had changed.

"Allison..." Emma finally managed to say, her voice hoarse.

Allison stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Emma in a light embrace. "You’re not that little girl anymore," she said with a soft laugh. "The one who always followed me and David around, covering for us whenever we needed it. You've really grown up, haven't you?"

Emma's heart ached at the familiar words, the memories flooding back in an overwhelming rush. She hesitated before slowly returning the hug, her hands trembling slightly.

"It’s... been a long time," she murmured in a long time.

Allison pulled back slightly, her gaze studying Emma's face with a mixture of nostalgia and fondness.

"It has," she agreed, her smile turning almost wistful. "Too long. But look at you now, Emma. You’ve turned into such a stunning young woman, not that geeky, shy Emma who always wanted to fit in at all cost. I’m so proud of you."

Emma bit her lip, fighting the wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Her sister's words sounded light and teasing, but they also made her feel insecure. She didn’t know how to respond. The years that had passed felt like an ocean between them now.

Allison seemed to be lost in happy memories, but Emma’s face grew paler with each passing second. A sudden realization struck her. Allison's smile faltered when she noticed the change in Emma’s expression. Her eyes widened as she seemed to remember something.

“I’m sorry, Emma,” Allison said, her tone softening. “I forgot… I forgot that you and David are married now. I was just caught up in the past. Please, don’t mind me.”

Emma’s heart twisted with a mixture of anger and confusion, but she couldn’t bring herself to show it. After all, this was the woman who had disappeared for two years without a trace. She had left so suddenly that it affected David because she was his best friend, and had left him heartbroken.

Her mind raced with unanswered questions, and she found herself blurting out, “Where have you been all these years? How have you been? When did you come back?”

Allison’s laughter was light and teasing. “You’re still so full of questions,” she said, shaking her head. “I got back the night before. It was David who picked me up. Didn't he tell you? I thought you knew.”

Emma’s heart skipped a beat. The night before? Did that mean that the woman at the airport……she wasn’t some client, as David had claimed — it was Allison. And as the pieces clicked together, Emma realized the painful truth.

David had forgotten their anniversary just to pick up Allison. She had spent the entire evening alone, while David was with the woman who had always been the center of his world.

Why did he lie to her?

The thought made Emma’s face grow even paler, her chest tightening with the realization that, for all intents and purposes, she had been abandoned. Her thoughts churned in a storm of hurt and confusion.

David noticed the shift in her mood, the sadness that seemed to weigh her down. His irritation flickered across his features, though he tried to hide it. He was growing tired of the conversation, sensing that Allison's words were only making Emma's pain worse. With a slight sigh, he cut in, his voice firm yet tired.

"We can talk later," he said. "There will be plenty of opportunities for that. But for now, we should go."

He glanced briefly at Emma, his expression softening as he reached for her hand, signaling that it was time to leave.

“I'll explain everything to you when we get home,” he said to her in a low voice.

Allison noticed David’s slight irritation, though she couldn't quite understand its cause. She assumed he was angry with Emma for unexpectedly showing up and interrupting their time together.

Despite her own desire to keep David’s attention, she knew better than to push him further. Sensing the tension in the room, she forced a smile, pretending to be understanding, though deep down she was frustrated. The last thing she wanted was to upset David any more than he already seemed to be.

As they turned to leave, she suddenly added, “Oh, don’t forget the welcome party tonight, David. It’s important.”

Emma’s heart sank even further. It hit her then: everyone knew Allison had returned, but she hadn’t been told. No one had bothered to invite her. She was an outsider in her own home, cast aside while Allison was the one who had David’s attention.

Her eyes welled with unshed tears as she stood there, feeling more alone than ever before.