They Wrapped Me Like A Mummy To Make Her Smile Chapter 08

They Wrapped Me Like A Mummy To Make Her Smile Chapter 08

A month later.

I was in evening study hall when someone knocked on the classroom door.

“Is Emma here?”

I looked up.

And saw the last person I wanted to see.

Ryan.

He looked thinner. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

The moment he saw me, something lit up in them.

“Emma!”

There was relief in his voice. And nerves.

The whole class turned to look.

Lily tugged at my sleeve, worried.

I stood up and walked out.

I didn’t want my new classmates witnessing my past.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

My voice was colder than I expected.

I hadn’t known I could face him so calmly.

He flinched at my tone.

“I came to find you.”

“Why did you leave without saying anything? I’ve been looking for you for a month. Your mom finally told me you were here.”

A month?

That surprised me.

I hadn’t expected him to look.

And certainly not for that long.

In my memory, his attention never lasted.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“To bring you back, obviously.”

He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“It’s inconvenient for you to be here alone. Come back. I forgive you.”

Forgive me?

I almost laughed.

Even now, he still thought he was the one granting mercy.

“Ryan,” I said evenly, “you’re the one who should be apologizing.”

“I did!” he snapped. “I bought you amusement park tickets. I got you your favorite things. What more do you want?”

I looked at him.

This was the boy I’d loved for years.

And suddenly, he felt like a stranger.

He still didn’t understand.

I never wanted tickets.

Or gifts.

I wanted respect.

I wanted to be treated like a person.

“I don’t want anything,” I said. “I just want you to leave.”

“And don’t come looking for me again.”

I turned to go.

He grabbed my wrist.

“Emma!”

“You’re going too far.”

“It was just a joke. Was it really worth all this?”

A joke.

Always a joke.

In his world, what happened to me had been harmless.

I pulled my hand free.

“Yeah. Just a joke.”

“So me leaving? That’s just a joke too.”

“You don’t have to take it seriously.”

And I walked back into the classroom.

Lily leaned close. “You okay? Who was that?”

“Nothing,” I said with a small smile.

“Just someone who doesn’t matter anymore.”

And that was the truth.

Something that once felt enormous now seemed small.

Someone I once thought I couldn’t live without—

I had already walked away from.

Life moved forward.

Midterms came.

I ranked third in the entire grade.

Ms. Reynolds praised me during class meeting.

“Even though Emma transferred in, she’s adapted exceptionally well. Everyone should learn from her.”

The applause was loud.

Sincere.

No sarcasm.

No whispers about being a nerd.

Just recognition.

A few days later, Ethan finally gathered the courage to approach me.

“Emma… are you free this weekend?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to see a movie.”

His ears were red.

His hands probably sweating.

Lily stood behind him, making exaggerated gestures: Say yes!

I considered for a moment.

“Okay.”

Why not?

I deserved to be treated sincerely.

I deserved to be liked properly.

I deserved a normal high school life.

Ethan looked like he might explode from happiness.

“Really? That’s—I mean—thank you for giving me a chance.”

He scratched his head, grinning like a kid.

That weekend, we watched an animated movie.

Ethan bought popcorn and soda.

He even brought tissues.

“I heard it’s emotional,” he said awkwardly. “In case you cry.”

I laughed.

He was so nervous he didn’t know where to put his hands.

The movie was about growing up and courage.

I didn’t cry.

But my chest felt warm the whole time.

Afterward, he walked me home.

“I had a great time today,” he said.

“Me too.”

“So… can I ask you out again?”

He looked at me hopefully.

Like a golden retriever waiting for approval.

I nodded.

His smile stretched from ear to ear.

So this was what it felt like to be cherished.

Careful. Intentional.

But confident.

No guessing someone’s mood.

No fear of being discarded.

Just mutual affection.

When my aunt found out, she teased me.

“So, Emma, are you dating now?”

I blushed. “Not officially.”

“Just friends. For now.”

“But maybe more.”

She winked. “Soon enough. I know Ethan. Good kid. Captain of the basketball team. Solid student.”

“If you like him, don’t hold back.”

Don’t hold back.

Yes.

I didn’t want to live the way I used to.

Waiting quietly beside someone.

Grateful for scraps of attention.

I deserved better.

Meanwhile, Ryan’s world was unraveling.

He had thought I was just upset.

That I’d come back after a few days.

Instead, I had truly left him behind.

After returning from Silverwood that first time, he locked himself in his room.

Replayed every memory.

I had always been there.

Wherever he went, I followed.

Whatever he said, I listened.

When he was angry, I soothed him.

When he was happy, I was happier.

He had grown used to me.

Like air.

And only when I disappeared did he realize he couldn’t breathe.

No one saved him a seat anymore.

No one brought him breakfast.

No one walked home with him.

No one remembered what he liked.

More importantly—

No one looked at him the way I once had.

Like he was everything.

Chloe still hovered around him.

But suddenly, he felt nothing.

Her sweetness felt rehearsed.

Her vulnerability felt staged.

How had he ever chosen that over something real?

I wasn’t glamorous.

But I was warm.

I wasn’t flashy.

But I was sincere.

I cried easily.

But I never played games.

Regret came too late.

He started going to Silverwood every weekend.

Waiting outside.

Watching from a distance.

Sometimes I saw him and simply walked another way.

As if he were a stranger.

One time, he finally managed to stop me.

“Emma. I’m sorry.”

“I know I messed up. Please forgive me.”

I looked at him calmly.

“Ryan, some things can’t be fixed with an apology.”

“A broken mirror doesn’t go back to perfect.”

“We can’t go back.”

And I left him standing there alone.