The Lie

On Friday evening, Emily had arrived home, cold, tired, and more heartsick than she had any right to be.

It was just a job, she had kept telling herself. But that had done absolutely nothing to stop her heart from hurting. And it had not stopped her from curling up in bed and sobbing for hours on end. She had muffled her cries with her pillow, hiding the noise from her mom. But come morning, there had been no hiding her swollen eyes.

Her only saving grace had been that her mom had left bright and early on Saturday.

"Ems, you came in late so I could not tell you yesterday. But I will not be in for most of today. I signed up for a sponsored walk yesterday, and I'm going to catch up with some old friends afterward, so do not expect to see me till late. Bye! Love you," Her mother had said, for once Emily had not had to fake a groggy voice.