After Three Years

Emma snapped her laptop shut and let out a frustrated sigh. She had spent hours sketching new designs, but nothing looked right. The problem wasn’t her drawings. It was her mind. Ever since she and Phoebe moved to Mexico to stay with Aunt Tiffy, she had been waiting for any fashion company to reply to the applications she sent out. But no one had reached out. Not even one message.

“I don’t get it. Nobody has replied about my work. I’m tired, Phoebe,” she complained, looking at her friend who was eating a sandwich. With another sigh, Emma dropped the laptop on the couch. “Do you think my work just isn’t good enough?”

Phoebe paused, wiped crumbs off her hands, and gave Emma a serious look. “Your work is amazing. You just need to believe in yourself more.”

Emma walked over, feeling drained. “I don’t know if I believe in myself anymore, Phoebs. We’ve been here for three years, and I haven’t gotten a single response. Maybe this is karma catching up with me.”

“Don’t say that. You know I love everything you design. Remember Aunt Tiffy’s wedding gown? It was the talk of the whole town. Even Bob couldn’t stop smiling about it. Now sit down and eat something. You’re stressing yourself out for nothing.”

Emma pulled out a chair and sat. But her mind kept spinning. Before they left Hidden Towel, she had applied to so many fashion companies… yet none wrote back. Now, giving up was the only option instead of keeping her hopes up. 

She turned to Phoebe. “Do you think he still thinks about what I did?”

“What?” Phoebe shot Emma a quick look, her brow furrowed in confusion. Even though she didn’t fully grasp what Emma was trying to say, she remained attentive. “He?” she asked. “Who?”

“Ezra,” Emma said softly. She swallowed, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.  “Do you think he still thinks about the car and the money I took?”

Phoebe groaned. “Emma, it’s been three years. You’re the only one still thinking about that. Let it go. And, it’s not karma. He took your virginity, you took the car. That has balanced it.”

“But I didn’t take the car because of that. I slept with him because I wanted him to be my first. I’m just tired of being stuck here with no job.” She looked around the house. “And nothing to do.” 

“Well to make you feel better, the people in this town recognize you for your talent and love your designs,” Phoebe replied, trying to lift her spirits but she knew her friend. Emma dreamed big.  

“You don’t understand how much my dresses would sell for in the city. I could be making real money by now,” Emma said. She leaned her head on Phoebe’s shoulder, her voice softening. “I want to see the world. I want to go to Paris, watch fashion shows, be known for my work… not stay stuck in this tiny town selling my dresses for peanuts.”

“I get it, hun,” Phoebe replied gently, resting her head against Emma’s.

Just then, Emma’s phone beeped from the couch, but she didn’t move.

“Aren’t you going to check that?” Phoebe asked.

“I really shouldn’t.”

“Why not? It might be something important.”

“No way. It’s probably Oscar again. He’s been bothering me all week to go out for dinner. I don’t even like him, and he refuses to take the hint.”

Phoebe scoffed lightly. “Sure, he’s a bit of a country boy, but he’s goodlooking. Lots of women would die for him, yet he picked you. You should feel flattered.”

“They can have him, then.” Emma jabbed her playfully, then groaned.“I don’t see what anyone sees in that man.”

“He’s handsome, he’s polite, and he has a nice house. Just picture it.” She had her hand in the air as she described. “Marrying Oscar, having little Oscars running around the house—”

Emma sat up fast, pulling away. “Please, you should be the one imagining that with him. Fine, I will check my phone so you will stop talking.” Phoebe laughed, and she walked to the couch and grabbed her phone. As she turned it on, a new email was on her screen. 

The subject line mentioned “Acceptance”, and as she opened it, her eyes widened. A burst of excitement shot through her.

She screamed.

Startled, Phoebe jumped to her feet. “What happened? Why are you screaming?”

Emma turned to look at her. The shock was still on her face and she was smiling so hard her face was hurting. “I got accepted! Phoebe, I got accepted!” She laughed loudly, almost shaking with joy. “This is big!”

Phoebe rushed to her, . “That’s amazing! Which company accepted you?”

Emma’s smile faded a little as she looked back at her phone. A worried look crossed her face. “Oh no.”

Phoebe’s excitement dropped. “What? Is it a scam or something?”

Emma met Phoebe’s worried eyes. “No, it’s real. It’s definitely real.”

“Then why did your mood change so fast? You were just so happy.” Phoebe sat down beside her, confused and curious.

Emma passed her the phone. Phoebe’s eyes widened after she saw the information. “Queen’s Company? Emma, this is one of the biggest fashion houses in New York! This is your dream!”

She looked back at Emma. “Why aren’t you celebrating?”

“It says ‘New York,’ babe.”

“So? Isn’t this what you wanted? To show your designs to the world? This is an answered prayer!”

“You don’t get it,” Emma whispered. “He lives there. What if I see him again?” She shook her head. “No. I can’t deal with that. I’m going to decline.”

Phoebe snatched the phone from her. Emma was talking nonsense. “Have you lost your mind? New York is very big! Different districts. Different cities. You’re acting like he’s the only person who lives there.” She sighed. “Calm down. You’re not going to bump into him.”

“You don’t understand,” Emma said quietly. “I’m scared. What if he sees me? What if he tries to report me? After everything that happened three years ago… I can’t go back.”

“Emma, look at me.” Phoebe held Emma’s shoulders, forcing her to meet her eyes. “We’re talking about Queen’s Company. You hit gold! You waited three whole years, and today they finally saw your talent and accepted you. This kind of chance doesn’t come twice. Stop panicking. Follow your dreams. Email them back and tell them you’re ready.”

She handed Emma her phone again.

“You were drunk that night, so I’m sure he doesn’t even know what you look like. If he did, he would have come after you. But three years have passed, so maybe he’s forgotten about it. What’s the worst that could happen if you go back to NYC?”

Phoebe was right. They were both drunk, and it’s not like she remembered much anyway. Even if she saw him now, she doubted she would recognize what he looked like.

“Okay… I’ll do it,” Emma said, a hint of courage returning.

“Yes, you will.”

Emma took a deep breath and started typing. Her heart raced, but she tried to push the fear away. New York was big, and it had been three years. He might not even recognize her too. She wasn’t that young girl anymore. Her body had changed, her style had changed, she had grown up.

By the time she finished the email and hit send, a smile slowly spread across her face. She turned to Phoebe, feeling almost free.

Phoebe jumped up with excitement and held out her hand. “Come on! Let’s start getting you ready for your trip back to NYC!”

Right! 

After three years, what’s the worst that could happen?