He discovered it wasn't a dream. A week of asking his parents when they were going back passed, and he got his answer when the truck with their stuff from Pennsylvania arrived. No, it wasn't a dream, it was his worst nightmare. He wailed, sobbed, yelled, wept; did everything he was capable of. It took him months to realize this wasn't going to change. The murky grey skies mirrored his heart and he failed to remember when he had last felt happy. Actually, he did remember. How could he not? It was the moment Emma had pecked him on the cheek. Her flowery scent had enveloped him and made him feel warmer than the blanket she had covered him with. He had pretended to be asleep so she wouldn't be embarrassed.
Months went by without talking to Emma. Not that he didn't think of her, he thought of her every second of every day, which is why he didn't know what he would say when he would pick up the telephone to call her. Would she even want to talk to him? He didn't have the courage to find out".
