Chapter 6: Haunted by Yesterday

Like that, Mom and Dad couldn’t separate us.

She was born a few minutes after me, but was a whole size smaller.

Mom said I was bossy, took more nutrients in the womb, that’s why my sister was so tiny.

Protecting my sister was in my bones.

I loved her as I loved myself.

I always wondered, if I’d been the one who stayed, would the tragedy have happened?

I finally found a chance and stole the key—a little click, metal scraping.

When Ms. Martinez went out for groceries, I unlocked Tyler’s ankle chain.

But unexpectedly, for once, he told me to go first.

"I’ve been drugged, can’t go far. I’ll only slow you down, and I know it."

"You should escape first."

I was stunned.

This wasn’t like Tyler at all.

He looked haggard, stubbly, disheveled, in dirty, ill-fitting clothes.

His hair smelled weird—nothing like the glamorous star he usually was.

But in the chaos, there was a hint of humanity.

"Boss, ‘slowing you down’ isn’t something you’d usually say."

He laughed, exasperated. "Emily, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Of course you’re wise, handsome, and generous," I joked.

"Stop lying." He called me out.

"Emily, you know, when you lie—"

"Your eyes blink slower."

"…I’m still a man. Can’t I have a little responsibility?"

"Letting a woman die with me—what sense does that make?"

Of course I didn’t leave him.

I carried Tyler on my back, walking more than six miles off-trail through the wilderness.

Until we were rescued.

The company wanted me, at the upcoming press conference, to tell the story of how Tyler, in a desperate situation, outsmarted the criminals and saved me, a weak woman.

Tyler read my speech outline and said it wasn’t necessary.

"What…?"

"So boring. You obviously saved me, but I have to pretend I saved you."

I reminded him, "Boss, did you forget your image?"

"You’re supposed to be cool and heroic."

"If you don’t play the hero, the fans won’t accept it."

He said coldly, "Who cares what they think."

Which, coming from him, was new.

"I just know you saved me. That’s it."

"I hate lying, Emily. I do."

He really told the truth to the media.

When he looked at me through the flashing lights and said,

"My assistant is very brave. I’m grateful to her—truly."

"Thank you for always staying by my side."

His eyes seemed brighter than the camera flashes.

I felt complicated.

I thought, he must have fallen for me.

Maybe deeper than I expected.

The manager asked me privately if Tyler had PTSD after the kidnapping.