As Emily emerged from Mrs Kargle's office, she headed to the kitchen to collect her thoughts.

You need to control yourself. You can't let her get to you like that. What would you do if you lost this job? Don't be naive. If you keep blurting things out like that, she WILL fire you. You need to keep it together. Mom should be coming home next week and everything will be better then. Just hold on.

With a deep sigh, Emily rose from the chair and started preparing the workspace. The rest of the day passed quickly. The conversation replayed in her mind, a mental loop she had been caught in. But with a steely resolve, she decided it was time to release the grip that the discussion had on her psyche. She concluded that the best course of action was to let Alex's presence fade from her thoughts, a decision that marked a conscious effort to regain some semblance of her ordinary life.

Though her 'ordinary' life was a far cry from the existence she had once envisioned, it was, at least, a quieter one. The air around her felt less turbulent without the ceaseless drama that had enshrouded her existence as of late. Emily yearned for a break from the tempestuous emotions that had become her constant companions.

Upon returning home, Emily's first order of business was to attend to her horses. Their presence offered her a sense of stability and a connection to the simpler aspects of life. Her equine companions demanded nothing more than her care and attention, providing a grounding force amidst the chaos that often swirled around her.

With her responsibilities to the horses fulfilled, Emily turned her attention to the evening's meal. Lasagna was on the menu, her absolute favourite. It held a special place in her heart because it was a dish she had savoured every Saturday at the Garnetts' house when Lucy was still with her.

As she began the preparation, she decided to break her self-imposed radio silence. It had been a long while since the airwaves had filled her home with music. Emily flipped the switch, and the radio sprung to life, its speakers reverberating with an assortment of melodies, each carrying its own memories and emotions. The playlist unfolded as an auditory tapestry of moments long past. Songs stirred feelings both warm and wistful within her.

It wasn't until the end of her culinary endeavors that the song "Two of us" began to play, as if summoned by the depths of her memories. Emily, bent down to check the meal's progress in the oven, was suddenly enveloped in the familiar tune. A smile formed on her lips, unbidden, as she recalled the spirited dance sessions she and Lucy had shared in her bedroom or in their tent, their voices raised in joyful harmony to the song's lyrics. "You and I have memories; Longer than the road; That stretches out ahead; Two of us wearing raincoats; Standing solo in the sun; You and me chasing paper; Getting nowhere; On our way back home."

It was a tune that had transcended mere music; it was an anthem of their friendship. Emily hadn't heard that song in years. The radio had been silenced, a consequence of the pain it invoked. But in that moment, she was transported back to the days when life had been simpler, happier, and filled with the exuberance of youth.

As a solitary tear welled in her eye, Emily was seized by a powerful wave of nostalgia. She remembered singing this very song in the car on that fateful day when Lucy left this world. In that instant, they had been carefree, blissfully ignorant of the cruel twist of fate that awaited them.

A recollection resurfaced, harkening back to their days spent in the woods, in their tent, when they had made a promise of singing this very song at their own funerals, their laughter mingling with the rustling leaves of the forest. It had been a jest, a promise of a distant future neither could have imagined would arrive so soon.

With the echoes of that memory still ringing in her heart, Emily decided that after dinner, she would make her way to Lucy's grave. It had been far too long since she last visited, and she felt the urge to reconnect with her friend. So, she allowed herself to savour every flavour of the lasagna, evoking all the joyful memories of her childhood.

Dinner came to a close, Emily mounted Hazel and as she rode through the twilight to the familiar resting place of her dear friend, Emily knew that, once there, she would continue their silent dialogue, as if Lucy were still by her side, sharing the weight of their memories and the enduring bond they had forged.

"Hey, Lully. Sorry for being MIA these past few weeks, but you wouldn't believe the things that have been happening in my life. So..." She proceeded to recount the saga involving Alex, Mrs Kargle, and the creepy figures, baring her soul to the memory of her friend.

"What do you think? Am I going bonkers? I've got a million questions and not a single answer. Are you perhaps the one who's been haunting me? Because if you are, watch out – I'm going to make it up to you!" she chuckled to herself.

"Oh, and guess what song popped up on the radio today? 'Two of us'! I hadn't heard it in ages. It felt odd belting it out without you screaming it in my ear. And I'm sorry I didn't sing it at your funeral, but I was far too grief-stricken for such antics, I'm sure you understand. Or maybe you don't. Knowing you, you'd probably be peering down at me with disappointment and annoyance. But, hey, I would've landed in hot water and appeared disrespectful if I had. I didn't want that for your parents," she sighed, her voice tinged with sorrow.

"Truth be told, Lully, I'm lost without you. I miss you so much. I remember that day at your funeral when everyone came forward to offer condolences to your family. I kept thinking how utterly bored you'd be if you had to stand there stiffly, extending your hand repeatedly, uttering 'thank you' a thousand times to people you hardly knew... OH MY GOD!" Her voice suddenly surged with excitement as a powerful memory came to the forefront of her mind.

A vivid recollection struck her like lightning. She remembered standing in the corner during the funeral, observing the line of well-wishers extending their condolences to Lucy's parents. She distinctly heard Mr Garnett saying, "Thank you, Maxwell," and she remembered the light brown eyes that had met hers as he was walking away.

"Lully!!!! I've seen him before!!! Oh my god, he knew you?? How did he know you??? Did I know him? Nooo, I would've remembered him, right? What in the fresh hell is going on? Oh my god, I wish I could hear your voice right now. I feel like you're up there screaming at me for being so daft about recognizing him. You probably are, aren't you? But I honestly can't place him. I haven't seen him since the funeral, that's for sure. Do you think I should contact your parents? Should I ask who that was? I mean, they obviously know him..."

She paced restlessly for a moment before standing before Lucy's grave, her gaze lifted toward the heavens. "How I wish you were here. You'd probably have unravelled this mystery by now. Anyway, I have to go now, but I promise to return in a few days, as soon as I uncover the truth about Maxwell. Don't worry; I'll fill you in on all the deets. Bye, Lully. I love you." She kissed her hand and tenderly touched Lucy's grave before walking away.

Upon returning home, she embarked on a quest to find the Garnetts' contact information. She dialled their number, but it went unanswered. After several more attempts, she reluctantly decided to call it a night, vowing to try again the next day.

...

"No!" Emily exclaimed, her eyes snapping open to find her alarm clock glaring back at her: 6:55 AM.

"Crap! Crap! Crap!" she muttered in a rapid chant as she hopped on one foot, wrestling her jeans into place while on her way to the bathroom. In haste, she managed to brush her teeth before sprinting outdoors to feed the horses. Intent on efficiency, she dashed about, attempting to complete her tasks with utmost haste. But, as it so often happens, rushing led to counterproductive delays and an unfortunate mishap. Upon entering Spike's stall, she inadvertently trod upon a mound of fresh manure.

"Oh, just wonderful. Thanks again!" she muttered skyward, her exasperation extending beyond the confines of this morning and deep into the tumultuous weeks that had transpired. After a quick change of shoes, she swiftly mounted her bicycle, pedalling as though her life depended on it, her mission being to avoid another uncomfortable encounter with the ever-irritable Mrs Kargle.

On her way to the nursery, she made a quick stop at a small bakery, her stomach empty for she had no time for breakfast that morning. The comforting aroma of freshly baked bagels momentarily alleviated her frustrations. Emerging from the bakery, her chocolate croissants in one hand and change in the other, she was abruptly drawn to the sound of two familiar voices engaged in conversation.

"I told you it wasn't a good idea to bring him here. I know you care for him, but listen to me, consider the risk you're placing others in."

Emily stealthily retreated into a narrow alley leading to the basement of a café she had frequented with Alex. Pressed against the wall, she eavesdropped on the discussion.

"I know, I know, but what should I have done? He had no one, Annie. He wasn't safe there."

"He's not safe here either. And he's bringing that poor girl into it too."

"I took care of that. He won't be seeing her anymore. Also, she has no idea what he did, so there's no reason for them to target her."

"My goodness, Nancy, if you really believe that, then you're even more daft than I thought."

"Then offer a better solution, if you're so insightful."

"I already did: send him away! They'll easily find him here."

"I can protect him."

"Sure you can. And I can shoot fiery darts out of my ass."

"Stop it. We don't have to worry about that yet. Nobody knows he's here."

"Yeah, for now."

"Let's try to be optimistic and just hope it stays that way. If not, we'll just deal with it then. Now, I need to go, but I'll see you tonight, right?"

"We'll just deal with it then? You're acting as if you're dealing with cute fluffy bunnies who can't do shit. Are you fucking delusional?"

"I'm well aware of the situation, Annie, but I can't just let him die! He's all I have left of him."

"I know, I just... I don't want you to get hurt. We should just be more careful, okay?"

Emily heard a sniffle, and after a brief pause, Annie said, "It's okay, honey. Everything will be alright. I'll see you tonight and we'll talk about it then."