Emily took a few steps towards him and showed him the music box.
Did you keep this to me?
“Every day.
“Then why didn’t you come back?
This time, Mike didn’t try to find excuses.
Because I was a coward. When I found out you were sick, I just thought of my own pain. I abandoned you when you needed me most.
Emily remained silent for a moment. Then he looked out over the ocean, which could be seen through the hotel’s large windows.
“We’ll be back on the beach tomorrow. You can come with us, but you must not escape again.
Mike covered his mouth with one hand, trying to hold a sob.
I will never escape again.
The next morning, all three of us went to the ocean.
I hadn’t forgiven Mike yet. Maybe I would never completely forgive him. But that day, forgiveness was not the most important thing.
Emily was.
She was sitting in the sand, wearing the pink hat that her grandfather had sent us. Mike built a sand castle next to him while I watched them from a small distance.
