They Wrapped Me Like A Mummy To Make Her Smile Chapter 02

They Wrapped Me Like A Mummy To Make Her Smile Chapter 02

Ryan finally showed up.

He looked exactly the same as always—hands in his pockets, easy smile, casual stride—like he had just come to watch something mildly entertaining.

A few of the guys trailed behind him.

And Chloe walked with them.

She wore a white dress, her long hair falling over her shoulders, looking effortlessly delicate. One hand covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise.

“Oh my God, you actually did it? That’s insane!”

There was excitement in her voice she couldn’t quite hide.

That was when it hit me.

My humiliation had been her wish.

And Ryan had been more than happy to grant it.

“Of course,” Ryan said proudly. “Chloe, since you wanted to see it, we had to make it happen.”

There was a softness in his tone when he said her name—a warmth I had never heard directed at me.

He stepped closer and looked down at me where I had been displayed near the school entrance of Brookhaven High School.

The sunset cast gold across his face.

It was the same face I had known my whole life.

But in that moment, it felt unfamiliar.

The eyes I once believed would always protect me now held nothing but amusement.

“Well, Emma?” he called lightly. “Not a bad view from there, right?”

He was still joking.

As if what lay there hadn’t been a person—but a prop.

“Alright, that’s enough,” he said after a moment, waving a hand. “Let her go.”

His tone was casual, like he was commenting on the weather.

The others moved quickly, and the next moment I was released. My body felt weak and unsteady, but no one seemed concerned.

Ryan crouched in front of me and pulled away the bandages from my face in quick motions.

When he saw my eyes—red, swollen—he paused.

For a second, I thought he might finally understand.

That he might apologize.

Instead, he sighed. “Why are you crying? It was just a joke.”

He shrugged. “We’ve messed with each other before.”

He said it so easily. Like this was no different from the harmless teasing we’d shared growing up.

But he forgot something.

Those old jokes had never stripped someone of their dignity.

They had never put one of us on display.

They had never felt like betrayal.

I stared at him without speaking.

My throat felt thick, like the words were stuck somewhere I couldn’t reach.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to say something.

I just didn’t know where to begin.

How did you confront someone who had been part of your life for as long as you could remember?

How did you accuse someone who once felt like home?

“Don’t look at me like that,” Ryan muttered, shifting under my gaze. “It’s kind of creepy.”

His eyes flickered away. Guilt flashed across his face—brief, almost accidental.

Then he rushed to justify himself.

“Chloe mentioned she’d never seen anything like that before. We just thought…” He shrugged again. “It’s not a big deal. You’re fine.”

Fine.

I glanced down at myself.

This was fine?

The guys behind him started chiming in.

“Come on, Emma, don’t overreact.”

“Yeah, we went through a lot of trouble setting that up.”

“If it wasn’t for Ryan, we wouldn’t have bothered.”

Every sentence carried the same message.

You don’t matter.

You’re lucky we paid attention at all.

Chloe stepped forward then, her expression suddenly soft.

“Emma, I’m really sorry. I had no idea they’d go that far,” she said gently. “I just said it as a joke.”

Her eyes shimmered as if she might cry.

And immediately the guys rushed to comfort her.

“Chloe, don’t blame yourself.”

“Yeah, none of this is on you.”

“You’re too nice. You even feel bad for her.”

I slowly pushed myself to my feet.

My legs trembled slightly, but I stayed upright.

I didn’t say a word.

I just looked at Ryan one last time.

That look held everything—shared childhood memories, inside jokes, afternoons walking home together.

And the quiet realization that none of it had protected me.

Then I turned and walked away.

“Emma!” he called after me. “Where are you going?”

“Stop being mad, okay? I’ll take you to Lakeside Amusement Park this weekend. I’ll even buy you dinner.”

“Emma Carter! Stop!”

I didn’t turn around.

My steps were slow, but steady.

Each one felt like it cut into me—but I couldn’t stop.

If I stopped, I might fall apart.

I might break down in front of him.

I might let him see how much it had hurt.

And I refused to give him that.

Not anymore.