Episode 5

And Caleb's words struck heavy in the air, making Emma pause for just one moment, her heart racing in her chest. It was no longer just an idea floating in the distance; it stared back at her right now, right into her face. Fight for them. Fight for what they had. But could she? Could she really let go of everything she knew for love that, seemingly, couldn't be?

She left her hand on Caleb's arm, warmth spreading through her at the touch, but the fear that wrapped its fingers around her heart wouldn't dissipate. "I wanna fight," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "But I don't know how. I don't know if I'm strong enough."

Caleb's eyes softened as he reached forward, the curve of his palm a cradle for her face. "You are stronger than you know. You have been stronger than that always." His thumb rubbed the curve of her cheek, sweeping away the tear from her eyelid. "I am not asking you to choose between me and your family. I am asking you to choose yourself. Choose what is real happiness for you.".

But my family. My father will never accept this. He's already promised me to someone else. It's too late for us, Caleb. I don't know if I can go back from that." she said, her voice not shaking at all, while she swallowed hard, the constriction in her throat making it hard for her to speak.

Caleb's eyes darkened with frustration. "You are not a pawn in someone else's game, Emma. You deserve better. Don't let them decide your happiness for you."

She turned her head to one side to see the depression storm raging through her. She had always lived for others - the expectations, the duties. She was the good daughter, the obedient one, and now, it seemed they wanted her to break free, be something unknown and scary.

But Caleb. Caleb made her feel alive. He made her feel that she was worth more than the role that she had to play.

"Caleb." Emma's voice weakened as she finally turned to meet his gaze. "What if I am not strong enough? What if I lose everything?"

"You don't have to lose everything," Caleb said gently, taking her hands into his. "But you have to be willing to try. Whatever happens, you won't be alone."

The gentleness in his voice, the belief shining from his eyes, broke through that wall around her heart she had built for herself. She felt herself weakening, as she pushed this want away from herself further and further. She was terrified of what would be when, finally, she had given Caleb over everything else. And in this moment, standing before him, she saw that her heart had long since made its decision.

She breathed in deeply. Her voice steady, she said, "I will. I'll fight for us."

Caleb's face lightened up as he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly like he thought that perhaps she'd just disappear on him. "You won't regret it," he whispered into her hair. "We'll get through this. Together."

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Emma's Struggle

The following few days were a blur of emotions and uncertainties. Emma hardly could concentrate on things that usually mattered; such things as her family's plans, the engagement dinner, and dad's expectations. All she could think of was Caleb.

She knew, however, the truth of it. If she was to decide him over other possibilities, there would be pain in the throes. There would be anger. There would be disappointment. No easy exit would open up. For Emma had always been the dutiful daughter, the one who made everyone so proud, and to betray all those expectations was almost more than she could do.

She sat in her room one evening, staring at that elaborate invitation to her sister's engagement dinner on her desk. The golden lettering seemed to jeer at her, her racing heart piercing her eyes as she studied it. Her next move in life was set in stone already. But still, Caleb. The way he touched her, letting her live again and the way she let him drown out the duties that had clogged her life with expectations of what she needed to be.

A knock on the door ended the battle in her head. "Emma, dinner's ready," called out her mother with brightness, unaware that inside the heart of her daughter lay a storm.

Emma got up slowly and slowly started to move toward the door. She opened it; and before her was her mother's bright smile, a smile she'd had for years and always knew from whence comfort and expectation came.

Today, though, she could not muster up to respond in the same manner. "I'm not hungry," she said quietly.

Her mother's smile wavered. "Emma, what's the matter? You haven't eaten much in a week. You're making us all anxious. It's an engagement dinner. Your father has been discussing the arrangements already. I fail to understand why you are so aloof."

Pressure began to build inside Emma. "I am just tired, Mom," she said softly, turning away before her mother could catch the tear that would fall.

Hours passed in that bed the night Emma lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts. She knew then there was no going back from there. If she chose Caleb, everything she knew would flip upside down. But what if it was worth it? What if her happiness came out to be more precious than life lived so far?

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Caleb Plan

He waited on tenterhooks for Emma to make a decision, his heart torn asunder by hope and uncertainty. She was at war with herself, greater than anything he had ever seen. He couldn't make her move, couldn't make her leave her family alone, but he surely couldn't sit back and watch her suffer through this.

A few days passed, and Caleb felt he had to do something. Emma was clearly struggling, and it seemed as if someone really needed support. But how much could he push her before everything shatters?

One evening Caleb called Emma, his voice steady but bursting with urgency. "I'm coming to see you tomorrow," he said simply.

She didn't know what to say. Everything inside of her screamed to say yes, to meet him and let him take away the burden she'd been carrying. But the fear still lingered.

"I—Caleb, I don't know if I can do this," she said, a quiver in her voice. "I don't know if I can choose you without losing everything."

I'm not asking you to give up everything," he said softly. "I'm asking you to fight for what you want. Fight for us. I'll be there, Emma. Whatever happens."

Emma kept the phone pressed to her chest as she took in his words. It was a moment of reckoning. Tomorrow, she would face Caleb. And with him, she would face the truth about what her heart really wanted.

(END

As the sun set over the city, all the while dimming with closing light, Emma had made her decision for some time. It was time to stop pretending; it was time to stop living in another life that wasn't hers. She had made her choice.

At this moment when Emma steps outside, she will see Caleb waiting for her across the street. His winning over her wasn't given up yet, and in that very moment, she realized she wasn't alone; with him, she can face the future he planned for them.

As they stepped towards each other with hands coming together as before, Emma knew that life was going to change for herself in a strange way. But, this time around, she knew it was her own decision.

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