Page 31 of Embers of Love

“You’re sleeping with my daughter?!” Becky yelled through the door. She stormed in, pushing past Ember.

Josephine looked horrified and scared as her mother confronted her.

“You’re almost twenty years older than her!”

“I-I…” Josephine stuttered, searching for something to wear, grabbing a Tee and track pants of Ember’s and pulling them on.

Ember tried to step in, but her mother raised a hand to stop.

“I can’t believe you of all people would betray me like this! My daughter!”

“Mom, stop!” Ember yelled.

“You should know better, Ember! She’s old enough to be your mother!!” Becky turned to her.

“She’s too old for you!”

“That is my choice to make!” Ember heatedly responded.

“Well, you made a terrible one!”

“NO! STOP!” Josephine screamed, interrupting the two.

The mother and child turned to look at her. Ember’s heart sank as she watched the tears running down her lover’s face. They’d been so afraid of something like this happening that seeing it finally come to pass was just awful.

“Okay, stop! I’m leaving! Just! Stop! Yelling!”

Josephine grabbed her overnight bag and handbag and fled through the door, tears trailing her as she went. Ember was furious. Part of her blamed herself for this—she’d been the one to answer the door.

“Ember,” Becky began, turning to her.

“Leave.”

Silence. A beat passed with neither of them saying anything. Finally, her mother walked out, and Ember was left alone. Alone and heartbroken. She lost to the strength keep herself on her feet. Slumped against the wall, slowly crumbling to the floor. All of her sudden, her apartment felt empty and dark. The shadows became the grim reaper’s condemning talons, reaching for her. Accusing baleful eyes lurked in the darkness. They glared at her. She could feel their judgement. She was a failure. Something good was finally happening in her life, but it had been ruined, just like that. It had all slipped through her fingers. Josephine was never going to come back now. They were done.

True to her predictions, Josephine didn’t answer her calls. She didn’t reply to her texts. It was like she’d disappeared from the world. When Ember dropped by her apartment on Sunday night, no one answered the door. She went home, disappointed.

Monday evening came, Ember found herself in front of her mirror, hollow eyes staring back at her as she dressed for work for the nightshift. She felt strangely numb. Her day had gone by with barely anything of note happening. Everything used to be so vibrant and colorful when Josephine came into her life. Now, she was looking at the world through a film that rendered everything in black and white.

Dimly, she recalled getting an uber to take her to work. It deposited her outside. The skies were already growing darker. She was there to relieve the people on dayshift, which was perfectly okay by her. Nighttime was quieter. Fewer people on the street, everywhere actually. Ember didn’t have the energy to interact or socialize. She got her duffel bag and made her way inside.

“SURPRISE!” Ember jumped in fright at the loud noise that assailed her the moment she walked into the fire station.

She looked around, alert, but only saw the smiling faces of her co-workers. The were all holding balloons and ribbons. A large banner overhead read WELCOME BACK EMBER!

Rory rushed forward and pulled her into a hug. Ember tried to relax, but her heart was still pounding. More people came to express their joy at her return. She responded somewhat mechanically, trying to fake a smile but failing woefully at it. They crowded her to the open office area where there was a cake waiting. It largely read the same thing the banner did.

Everything seemed to happen in a blur. She allowed herself to be carried everywhere. Occasionally, she caught her mother watching from the open door of her office, but she didn’t speak with her. They hadn’t spoken to each other since that night she came over and had that fight with Josephine. Ember was resolved to never speak with her again beyond work. Becky had broken her heart.

They had some sort of mini-party at the station. She still had an hour before she could need to start her shift. As soon as she could, Ember made up some excuse and left the fire station. It was getting suffocating in there. She loved her co-workers, but all of them together like that was putting too much strain on her already weakened mind. She went for a walk instead, going to the park nearby.

Ember took a seat on the bench. Staring out at nothing in particular, letting her mind wander. Naturally, her thoughts drifted to Josephine. Again. She’d done nothing but think about her for the past few days. The longing never ceased. The hole that was left by her absence remained a gaping wound that refused to heal.

“Hey.” Ember turned to the familiar voice.

It was Josephine.

Ember stared blankly at her. Wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her.

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