Saving grace

I had gotten to the point that I rarely left my house, and if I did, it was late at night when I did. One of the times I went to Walmart, I was standing in an isle, blank staring at the shelves of coffee grounds. All of a sudden, a felt someone wrap their arms around me. And I felt a large, busty chest pressed up against my back as I was hugged. “I hope you’re doing alright, John.” I hear Emma whisper to me.

“What she did to you was so wrong John, I miss you.” She tells me, now leaning her head against my arm. I turn around and hug her back, “I miss you too, Emma. I’m doing alright, I guess.”

_“No the hell you’re not, John. You look like a mess. You’re hairs unkept, you look exhausted, at least you remember to take a shower. You still smell really nice. When’s the last time you had a decent meal John?” _I just stare at the ground, my lack of an answer enough for her. “I’m coming over tomorrow night and cooking dinner for you. And before you try to argue it, don’t even waste your time. I’m coming over anyway. You don’t need to keep this up.”

“I know Emma. I appreciate it, but don’t feel like you have to. You don’t.”

“Nonsense John, of course I do. I still hate what Brooke did to you, and I can’t stand to see you like this.” She tells me, her eyes empathetic and pleading. “Okay then, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then, Emma. Thank you”

“You’re welcome, honey. Why don’t you finish shopping with me, I’ll even buy your groceries for you too.” For the next hour or so, we shopped together. We really don’t talk a whole lot. Just enjoyed each other’s presence. When I got home, I started cleaning the house. Emma said she would be over at 5 the next evening, so I had plenty of time to clean the house and myself. And all of a sudden, I realized I was trying to impress her. Or maybe I already had before