Chapter 39: I’ll figure it out

The house had been quiet for so long that Ethan had almost forgotten what normal noise sounded like.

The occasional vibration of Emily’s phone.

The sound of cardboard scraping against the floor.

A cupboard opening.

Then closing.

That was about it.

Emily sat on the floor beside an open box, sorting through things while Ethan stood nearby holding a stack of old books.

"Keep these?" he asked.

Emily glanced over.

"No."

"Sell?"

"Probably."

Ethan looked at the books.

"You’re really selling everything?"

"Not everything."

"Feels like everything."

Emily gave him a tired look.

"Ethan."

"I’m just saying."

He placed the books into another box.

For the next few minutes, neither spoke.

Ethan wasn’t used to being this quiet around people.

Especially Emily.

Normally, there would be some random joke, an argument about football, or Damian doing something stupid that they could make fun of.

Now there was none of that.

Just the reality of why they were there.

Emily’s mother was in a hospital.

And Emily was trying to figure out how to pay for everything.

Ethan looked at another box.

"What about these?"

"Those can go too."

He picked up a small electronic device.

"This still works?"

"I think so."

"You could probably get something for it."

"That’s the idea."

Ethan put it down carefully.

Then he looked at her.

"You know you don’t have to do all this alone."

Emily continued sorting.

"I know."

"Do you?"

She stopped.

"Ethan..."

"You know what I mean."

She sighed.

"I do."

"Then tell Damian."

Emily’s hands stopped moving.

There it was again.

The conversation she’d been avoiding.

"I already told you."

"And I already told you that you’re going to have to tell him."

"Eventually."

"Yes."

"Then eventually I’ll tell him."

Ethan stared at her.

"You’re really stubborn."

Emily looked up.

"You’re one to talk."

"Fair."

A tiny smile crossed her face.

It disappeared almost immediately.

She reached for another stack of clothes.

Ethan watched her for a moment.

"Why don’t you want him to know?"

Emily was quiet.

Then she said,

"Because he’s got enough going on."

"Nexora?"

"Nexora. Westbridge. School. Everything."

"He can handle it."

"I know."

"Then what’s the problem?"

Emily folded a shirt.

"I don’t want him to feel like he has to fix everything."

Ethan frowned.

"He might want to help."

"That’s exactly what I’m worried about."

She placed the shirt into the box.

"Damian is the type of person who’ll see a problem and immediately start looking for a solution. If I tell him my mom is in the hospital and we need money, he’ll start trying to solve it."

Ethan thought about that.

She wasn’t wrong.

Damian had always been like that.

Even before everything changed.

If Ethan had a problem, Damian would at least try to help.

Now that Damian had money?

That instinct would probably be ten times stronger.

"I just want to handle this myself first," Emily continued.

Ethan nodded slowly.

"Okay."

He didn’t agree.

But he understood.

At least a little.

"So what exactly are you trying to raise?"

Emily shook her head.

"I don’t know yet."

Ethan stared at her.

"You don’t know?"

"The hospital hasn’t given me the final amount."

"Right."

"They’ve given me an estimate for some of the treatment and other expenses, but everything keeps changing."

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck.

"That sounds rough."

"It is."

She looked down at the clothes in her hands.

"But I’ll figure it out."

Ethan sighed.

"There she goes again."

"What?"

"’I’ll figure it out.’"

Emily looked at him.

"What else am I supposed to say?"

"I don’t know. Maybe, ’Ethan, you’re handsome and incredibly wise. Please solve all my problems.’"

Emily stared at him.

Then laughed.

"You’re an idiot."

"There. That’s better."

For the first time since he’d arrived, the room felt slightly lighter.

They kept packing.

An hour later, Ethan had managed to fill several boxes.

Emily had created three piles.

Things to sell.

Things to keep.

Things she wasn’t sure about.

The third pile was growing suspiciously fast.

Ethan picked up another item.

"Keep or sell?"

Emily looked over.

"Keep."

"Finally. Something survived."

She rolled her eyes.

Ethan placed it in the appropriate pile.

Then he noticed another box tucked underneath a table.

"This one?"

Emily frowned.

"I don’t remember."

She walked over.

Ethan pulled it out.

The box wasn’t particularly large.

Emily crouched beside him.

"Open it."

Ethan lifted the lid.

Inside were several smaller items.

Old photographs.

A few cards.

Some personal things.

Emily reached in and started sorting through them.

Then her hand stopped.

Her fingers closed around something.

She slowly pulled it out.

A black box.

Her expression changed immediately.

Ethan noticed.

"What?"

Emily didn’t answer.

She stared at the box.

For a second, she was no longer in her house.

She was back in that university garden.

Damian standing in front of her.

His nervous expression.

His voice.

Would you like to go out with me?

Then the delivery.

The large black box.

The silver ribbon.

Adrian’s card.

Emily slowly opened it.

The designer handbag was still inside.

She stared at it.

Ethan looked over.

"What is that?"

Emily swallowed.

"Something Adrian gave me."

Ethan’s eyebrows rose.

"Oh."

He remembered.

"The gift."

"Yeah."

She lifted the card.

Her eyes moved across the words.

I hope you like it.

Emily sighed.

"I completely forgot about this."

Ethan looked at the bag.

"That’s expensive."

"I know."

"You still have it?"

"I was going to return it."

She looked at the box.

"Then everything got complicated."

Ethan nodded.

"Fair."

Emily carefully placed the bag back inside.

She closed the box.

Then opened it again.

Ethan laughed.

"Make up your mind."

"I am."

She looked at him.

"I’ll return it."

"When?"

Emily glanced toward the clock.

"Soon."

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"That sounded very convincing."

"Shut up."

He smiled.

"I’m just saying."

Emily looked at the bag again.

She remembered what she’d told Damian.

I’ll return it.

She hadn’t changed her mind.

If anything, she felt even more certain now.

She didn’t want Adrian’s gift sitting in her house.

She didn’t want to owe him anything.

And she definitely didn’t want him thinking the gift had changed anything between them.

She closed the box firmly.

"I’ll take it tomorrow."

Ethan looked at her.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Alright."

He returned to packing.

Emily placed the gift box beside her.

For a moment, she simply stared at it.

Then she looked away.

By late afternoon, the house looked noticeably different.

Several shelves were emptier.

Boxes were stacked near the entrance.

A small pile of things Emily intended to sell sat near the wall.

Ethan stretched his arms.

"My back is finished."

Emily laughed.

"You barely did anything."

"Excuse me?"

"You complained more than you worked."

"That is still work."

She shook her head.

Ethan checked the time.

"I should probably head home."

Emily nodded.

"Yeah."

He stood and picked up his bag.

Then he looked around.

"You sure you’re okay?"

Emily gave him the same answer she’d been giving all day.

"I’ll be fine."

Ethan stared at her.

"That’s not what I asked."

Emily’s smile faded.

She looked down.

"I don’t know."

It was the first time she’d admitted it.

Ethan didn’t joke.

He simply nodded.

"Okay."

Emily looked at him.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Coming."

Ethan shrugged.

"Damian would’ve done the same."

The words slipped out naturally.

Emily looked away.

"I know."

There was something about hearing Damian’s name that made her chest tighten.

Not because she didn’t want him there.

Because she did.

More than she wanted to admit.

She wanted to call him.

Tell him everything.

Hear his voice.

Let him know what was happening.

But every time she imagined doing it, another thought followed.

He’ll try to fix it.

And she wasn’t ready for that.

Not yet.

The sun was already beginning to disappear when Ethan finally stepped outside.

Emily followed him.

"You don’t have to walk me."

"I know."

"Then why are you?"

"Because you’re my friend."

Ethan glanced at her.

"And because I don’t trust you to not work until three in the morning."

Emily smiled.

"I won’t."

"You’re lying."

"Maybe."

They walked down the street together.

For a while, Ethan kept the conversation light.

He complained about their lecturer.

Emily laughed at one of his stories about Damian.

Then they talked about a football match.

Normal things.

It helped.

For a few minutes, Emily almost forgot what was waiting for her at home.

Eventually, they reached the point where Ethan had to turn.

He stopped.

"This is me."

Emily nodded.

"Thanks again."

"Anytime."

Ethan took a few steps.

Then turned around.

"And Emily?"

She looked at him.

"Tell Damian."

She sighed.

"I will."

"Soon."

"When I’m ready."

Ethan shook his head.

"Fine."

He started walking again.

Emily watched him disappear around the corner.

Then she looked down.

She was carrying the black gift bag.

Ethan hadn’t noticed until now.

He had seen the box earlier, but not the bag she’d placed it inside before leaving.

Her phone vibrated.

Emily ignored it.

She waited.

Once Ethan was completely out of sight, she stopped.

Slowly, she reached into the bag.

Her fingers found the card.

She pulled it out.

It was the same card Adrian had given her back on campus.

Emily turned it over.

An address was written on the back.

She stared at it.

Then looked at the bag.

Her decision was already made.

She stepped toward the road.

A taxi approached.

Emily raised her hand.

The car slowed.

She opened the door.

"Where to?" the driver asked.

Emily looked once more at the address.

Then got in.

"Take me here."

The driver glanced at the card.

"Alright."

The door closed.

As the taxi pulled away, Emily held the bag tightly against her side.

She had promised herself she would return the gift.

And tonight, she was finally going to do it.