Emily shook off the uneasiness she had felt from the dream and her worries. She stretched, deciding to leave the strange visions behind for now. It's just a dream, she reminded herself as she made her way to the bathroom.
After she was done brushing her teeth, she rinsed her face, letting the cold water ground her in the present. She could see her reflection in the mirror, her face was still looking a little pale from sleep, but she smiled. Today, she only have to focus on the things she could control.
As she stepped out of the bathroom, she called out, "Sophie! Don't even think about finishing all the pancakes without me!"
A laugh echoed from the kitchen. "Too late! I'm saving you one... maybe."
Emily grinned as she started walking toward the dining room and her mood got lightened up with each step. The smell of pancakes drifted all through the air, and she could hear her stomach grumbling in response. As she rounded the corner, she saw her uncle already dressed, sipping his coffee while checking his watch.
"Morning, Uncle," she greeted as she sat down at the table.
Her uncle looked up, his face softening into a smile. "Morning, Emily. Sophie didn't burn breakfast for once, so you're in luck."
"Ha ha, very funny," Sophie shot back, flipping a pancake onto Emily's plate. "I'm a master chef."
"You wish," Emily teased, cutting into her pancake. She glanced at her uncle, who was now standing, grabbing his keys off the table. "Off to work already?"
"Yep, busy day at the office," he said, while sliding his phone into his pocket. "I'll be back a bit late, so don't wait up. You girls behave while I'm gone."
"Behave?" Sophie laughed. "We're saints, Dad."
He chuckled and then leaned down to kiss the top of Sophie's head and then Emily's. "That's what worries me."
Emily smiled, she felt a warmth spread in her chest. It was moments like this that reminded her how lucky she was to have them around her, especially after everything. As much as she missed her parents, her uncle and cousin had been a lifeline.
"See you tonight, " she said.
"Take care of yourselves," he replied, giving them both a nod before heading out the door.
The room felt a little quieter after he left, but the mood stayed light. Sophie took a seat and sat down next to Emily, drizzling syrup over her own pancakes.
"So, what's on your agenda today?" Sophie asked between bites.
Emily stabbed a piece of pancake as she chewed thoughtfully before answering. "I have a therapist appointment in the afternoon. Just a check-in to see if there's any improvement with... you know, the memory stuff."
Sophie nodded, her expression turning more serious for a second. "Any progress?"
"Not really," Emily admitted, her voice softer now. "I mean, I still don't remember anything before the accident. It's so frustrating, but the therapist says it'll take time."
"Yeah, well, that's what they always say," Sophie said, rolling her eyes. "Time. Patience. Like it's so easy."
Emily let out a small laugh. "Exactly."
There was a pause, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. Sophie was always good at making her laugh, but Emily could tell that her cousin worried about her, even if she didn't show it outright.
"But hey," Emily added, trying to lift the mood again, "I did take that editor job I told you about."
Sophie's eyes lit up. "Really? That's awesome! I thought you were still on the fence about it."
"I was," Emily said, as she takes another bite. "But it feels like a good first step, you know? Something low-pressure until I can figure out what I really want to do."
"That's a Smart move," Sophie said, while she nods her head in approval. "Besides, you've always been good with words, so editing's probably perfect for you."
Emily shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We'll see. It's not what I planned on doing, but I think it'll help me feel more... settled. At least for now."
Sophie leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "You're sure gonna do great, Em. Just take it one day at a time. No pressure."
Emily glanced at her cousin, she felt grateful for her unwavering support. "Thanks, Soph."
"Of course! That's what I'm here for," Sophie grinned, then added with a smirk, "Well, that and to eat the last pancake."
"Don't even think about it," Emily shot back, laughing as Sophie quickly swiped the final pancake from the stack.
They continued to chat as they finished breakfast, Emily found herself smiling more easily, her worries about the dream and her past slipping away
For now, she just let herself enjoy the small things, the simple moments that reminded her that life was moving forward, even if her memories weren't. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was still something missing—something important. And that nagging sense of emptiness wouldn't quite go, no matter how hard she tried.