Back at the apartment, Emma and Shirley were still buzzing from the evening's events. They both changed into their comfortable clothes, and as they sat in the cozy living room, Shirley couldn't help but bring up the surprise proposal they had witnessed at the restaurant earlier.
"I still can't believe that guy just got down on one knee like that," Shirley said, her eyes shining with excitement. "It was so romantic! You could see the love in his eyes. I mean, he didn't even care that everyone was watching. He just wanted to make her happy."
Emma smiled, her mind drifting back to the scene. "Yeah, it was really sweet," she agreed, though there was a hint of wistfulness in her voice. "They looked so happy together. It must be nice to have someone who cares about you that much."
Shirley noticed the tone in Emma's voice and gave her a gentle nudge. "Hey, don't worry. Your time will come. You just have to keep your heart open, you know?"
Emma chuckled softly. "Maybe. But right now, I'm just focused on surviving, one day at a time."
As the night grew darker, they both decided to turn in. They moved to the bedroom, and without even realizing it, they seemed to share a mutual understanding. Shirley flicked off the lights, plunging the room into a comforting darkness, while Emma pulled the covers over herself. They lay on their respective beds, but the conversation didn't stop.
"Do you ever wonder how different your life would be if things had gone another way?" Shirley asked after a moment of silence, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emma thought about the question. "All the time," she admitted. "There were moments when I felt like everything was falling apart, and I didn't know how I was going to make it. But I guess, in a way, all those struggles made me who I am today. Stronger, I hope."
Shirley turned on her side, facing Emma even though she could barely make out her silhouette in the darkness. "You know, I've always admired how strong you are. You've been through so much, but you still keep going. I don't think I could have survived the way you did."
Emma sighed softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You'd be surprised at how much you can handle when you don't have a choice," she replied. "But yeah, it was tough. There were times when I didn't know where my next meal was coming from, or when I didn't have a place to sleep. But somehow, I made it through. And now, I have friends like you. I'm really grateful for that."
Shirley was quiet for a moment, processing Emma's words. "You never talk much about your past," she said softly. "But I can tell it was rough. I'm glad you're here now, and I'm glad we're friends."
Emma smiled in the darkness, feeling a warmth in her chest. "Me too, Shirley. You've made these past few months so much easier. I don't know what I would've done without you."
Shirley chuckled lightly. "I guess we make a good team, huh?"
"Yeah, we do," Emma agreed.
After a pause, Shirley added, "You mentioned a while ago that you have six brother ,but only good with a couple of brothers—Logan and Ethan, right? You've never really talked about them much. What are they like?"
Emma hesitated for a moment before answering, memories of her brothers flooding back. "Logan and Ethan are… complicated," she said slowly. "Logan, my third brother, has always been kind of a hothead. He's fiercely protective and has a temper, but he's also one of the few people in the family who genuinely cared about me. He's always had my back, no matter what."
Shirley listened intently, her curiosity piqued. "And Ethan?"
"Ethan's different," Emma continued. "He's calm, methodical, and extremely smart. He's the one who plans everything, thinks things through. But there's always been this distance between us, like he's always trying to figure out what's really going on, even with me. He's suspicious by nature, but he's also the one who taught me how to survive in our family. But know I also don't know where they are, because they leave the house when they 18 years old"
Shirley was quiet, processing what she'd just learned. "It sounds like they're both really important to you," she finally said. "I can see why you'd be close to them. They seem to be the ones who helped you the most."
Emma nodded, even though she knew Shirley couldn't see her. "They were. They are. I just wish things were different, you know? But the past is the past. All I can do now is move forward."
Shirley smiled softly. "Well, I'm glad you have them, and I'm glad you're moving forward. We'll face whatever comes together, right?"
"Right," Emma agreed, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. "We'll face it together."
The two women fell into a comfortable silence after that, the only sound in the room being the soft rustling of the sheets as they both settled in for the night. Emma's mind drifted back to her brothers, to the memories they shared, and to the uncertain future that lay ahead. But for the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't facing it alone. Shirley was right—they made a good team.
As Emma closed her eyes, she silently promised herself that she would hold on to the good things in her life, like this newfound friendship. She didn't know what the future held, but whatever it was, she knew she'd be ready for it.