Love by the Contract

Chapter 67

The silence in the apartment was deafening. Without the constant hum of hospital machines or the presence of the twins, Emma felt an unfamiliar emptiness creeping into her life. She sat by the window, staring at the faint glow of the city lights, her thoughts a tangled mess of fear, hope, and uncertainty.

Her phone buzzed on the table. Thomas’s name appeared on the screen.

“How are you holding up?” he asked, his voice warm and reassuring.

Emma let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “I don’t know. The apartment feels… wrong. Quiet in a way it shouldn’t be.”

“That’s understandable,” Thomas said. “You’ve been running on adrenaline for weeks. It’s bound to feel strange now that they’re not here.”

Emma’s eyes drifted to the photo on her desk—a picture of her holding both twins the day they were born. It felt like a lifetime ago. “I keep worrying about them,” she admitted. “Every second, I’m wondering if they’re okay, if Alex is managing everything on his own.”

Thomas’s voice softened. “Alex will take care of them. You’ve made the best decision you could, Emma. Now it’s time to take care of yourself for a change.”

Emma swallowed hard, his words hitting a nerve she’d been avoiding. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“Start by talking to someone,” Thomas suggested. “A professional. You’ve been through so much, Emma. Therapy could help you make sense of everything you’re feeling.”

She hesitated, the idea both daunting and intriguing. “I’ll think about it,” she said finally.

The following week, Emma found herself sitting in a quiet office, her hands folded nervously in her lap. The therapist, a kind-looking woman named Dr. Morrison, smiled gently from across the room.

“It’s nice to meet you, Emma,” she said. “Why don’t we start by talking about what brought you here?”

Emma hesitated, unsure of where to begin. “I guess I just… feel lost,” she admitted. “Everything in my life has been so overwhelming lately. The twins, my… complicated relationship with their father, and now this.”

Dr. Morrison nodded encouragingly. “It sounds like you’ve had a lot on your plate. Why don’t we break it down? Tell me about the twins first.”

Emma’s face softened at the mention of them. “They’re my world,” she said quietly. “Every decision I make is for them. But right now, they’re thousands of miles away, and I feel so helpless.”

Dr. Morrison leaned forward slightly. “That’s a difficult position to be in. But you trusted their care to someone else. Tell me about that decision.”

“It wasn’t easy,” Emma admitted. “Alex… their father… he’s been trying to make amends for a lot of mistakes. Sending him with them felt like the right thing to do, but it’s complicated. I’m still angry at him, but I also see how hard he’s trying.”

“It’s okay to feel conflicted,” Dr. Morrison said gently. “Anger and trust can coexist. What about Alex makes it so complicated?”

Emma paused, her mind racing. “He’s always been passionate, driven. But sometimes that passion blinds him. He makes decisions without thinking about how they’ll affect me or anyone else. And yet, there’s a part of me that remembers why I fell in love with him. That’s what makes it so hard to let go.”

Dr. Morrison’s gaze was understanding. “Have you let go, Emma? Or is there still a part of you holding on to that love?”

The question struck a chord deep within her. Emma’s chest tightened, and she looked away. “I don’t know,” she said quietly. “But I do know that I’ve started to feel something else, something I didn’t expect.”

“And what’s that?” Dr. Morrison prompted gently.

Emma hesitated, her thoughts drifting to Thomas. His unwavering support, his steady presence, and the way he always seemed to know what she needed. “It’s… Thomas,” she admitted. “He’s been there for me in ways I never expected. And it’s confusing, because I don’t know if what I’m feeling is real or just gratitude.”

Dr. Morrison’s expression remained neutral, inviting Emma to continue. “What about Thomas makes you question your feelings?”

Emma sighed, running a hand through her hair. “He’s everything Alex isn’t. Calm, reliable, thoughtful. But he’s also a reminder of how messy my life has become. I don’t want to hurt him, and I don’t want to make another mistake.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to protect everyone around you,” Dr. Morrison observed. “But what about protecting yourself? What do you want, Emma?”

The question lingered, unanswered, as Emma’s phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out, her heart racing as she saw Alex’s name on the screen. Answering quickly, she was greeted by the sound of his voice.

“Emma, we’re on video call,” he said. “The twins wanted to say hi.”

Emma’s breath caught as the screen filled with an image of her son and daughter, their tiny faces more animated than she’d seen in weeks.

“They’re responding well,” Alex said, his voice tinged with relief. “The doctors are optimistic.”

Tears filled Emma’s eyes as she smiled at her babies. “Hi, sweethearts,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Mommy misses you so much.”

In that moment, the weight of her conflicted emotions felt just a little lighter. For now, the twins were okay, and that was enough to give her the strength to keep moving forward.

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