The credits rolled up the screen, the soft music filling the cozy living room of their new apartment. Emilia reached for the remote and clicked off the TV, leaving the room bathed in the warm glow of a single lamp. She leaned back against the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, a half-empty glass of wine in her hand. Lily was sprawled out on the other end of the couch, her head resting on a pile of throw pillows, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a strand of her now-short chestnut hair.
The room was quiet for a moment, save for the faint hum of the city outside their window. The move to this new city had been abrupt, a rushed decision neither of them had really had time to process. But the apartment, small as it was, had become their sanctuary. The walls were mostly bare, save for a few framed photos of the two of them from years ago, smiling widely on a beach somewhere. The furniture was a mix of secondhand finds and cheap IKEA pieces, but it was theirs. And that was enough.
"Still can't believe you cut your hair," Emilia said finally, breaking the silence. She took a sip of her wine, her eyes flicking toward Lily. "I mean, it looks good. But... wow."
Lily smirked, reaching up to tug at the ends of her now shoulder-length hair. "Yeah, well, after everything that happened, I needed a change. Something to... I don’t know. Mark the start of a new chapter." She shrugged, though her tone was lighter than it had been in weeks.
Emilia chuckled, but the sound was hollow. She set her wine glass down on the coffee table and turned to face Lily fully. "Do you think we're safe here?"
Lily’s smirk faded, and she sat up slightly, pulling one of the throw pillows into her lap. "Honestly? I don’t know. I mean, I’d like to think we covered our tracks. But..." She trailed off, her fingers tightening around the pillow. "I won’t lie, Em. I still check the locks every night and check people's reflections in the mirror. I still get that weird feeling sometimes, like I’m being watched. But it’s getting better. Slowly."
Lily’s voice was quieter now, her gaze fixed on the pillow in her lap. Her fingers traced the seams absently, as if grounding herself in the tactile sensation. "It’s... weird, you know? Knowing he was literally in my body. Seeing that recording. The one you saw. The way he used me." She paused, her jaw tightening.
Emilia’s expression softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on Lily’s arm. "Lil, don't focus on it. There was nothing you could have done. It's a miracle you found a way to get out of it. You didn't know what you were doing."
Lily shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But that’s the worst part, Em. I didn’t know. I didn’t feel it. I didn’t fight it. I was just... gone." Her voice cracked, and she looked up at Emilia, her face a mix of anger and despair. "And now, every time I look in the mirror, I wonder if I’m even still *me* or if some part of him is still there, lurking. Like he’s... tainted me somehow."
Emilia’s grip tightened on Lily’s arm, her voice firm but gentle. "Lily, listen to me. You’re *you*. You always have been and always will be. Zach doesn’t get to take that from you. He doesn’t get to win." She shifted closer on the couch, pulling her sister into a tight embrace. "We’re here. We got out. And we’re going to make sure it stays that way. You’re not alone in this, okay? I’ve got your back. Always."
Lily hesitated for a moment, then let out a shaky breath, her body relaxing slightly as she leaned into Emilia’s hug. "I know. It’s just... hard to shake the feeling, you know? Like, what if they finds us? What if he tries it again? There's literally no way we can stop them."
Emilia pulled back, her hands on Lily’s shoulders as she looked her sister directly in the eyes. "We’re smarter now. We’re prepared. And if they dare to come near us again, they'll regret it. We’ve got the recording, Lil. They know we'll send it to every new company in town the second they try something. And we’ve got each other."
Lily nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You’re right. We’ve got this."
"Damn right we do," Emilia said with a grin, though her eyes were fierce with determination. "Now, how about we open another bottle of wine and make fun of the terrible movie we just watched? Because seriously, what even was that ending?"
Lily laughed, the sound light and genuine for the first time in what felt like forever. "Deal. But you’re pouring. I’m too comfortable to move."
"Fine, fine," Emilia said, standing up and heading toward the kitchen. As she uncorked the wine, she glanced over her shoulder at Lily, who was now curled up on the couch, a soft smile on her face. The poor girl had been through so much. How on earth had she been so strong? Emilia admired her little sister so much. Her strength alone could get them through anything. And for the first time in weeks, Emilia felt a glimmer of hope. They were broken, yes, but they were here. And they were going to be okay.
