LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY all_these_fools)

Emily had been locked away in her room all morning. It was a dreary Sunday afternoon and the weather outside strongly reflected all she was feeling inside.

Aleera was with a friend for the weekend, staying with Hedwig Friday night through Monday morning. It was the weekly routine since Emily felt so disconnected from the world. She was happy her dear friend loved kids and never minded taking Emily's mini-me (as so many people called little Aleera, who was very much a little clone of her mother) for the weekends.

Emily hadn't noticed how much her down and out, almost sour mood was affecting Kevin, her roommate, her fiance, the love of her life. It wasn't until a comment was left in her online journal that she realized how much of her life had been cut off from the world around her. She realized then, how much she'd been keeping from him and it made her even sadder. She had unintentionally hurt the only person, save her daughter, whom Emily loved more than anything else in the world. She didn't mean to hurt Kevin, and she would do anything to take it all back. She decided, finally, it was time to talk.

She was sitting in her room on the foot of the bed, absently fingering a small computer print out of a photograph, the edges of the shiny paper worn and frayed. She gripped the photo in her hands and stood, walking towards the door. She glanced down at the picture and did her best to hold back tears.

She walked down the hall, to Kevin's room. Yes, they still kept separate rooms despite spending most nights with one another in either room. Lately, however, they'd been sleeping alone.

Emily raised her hand to the wood and gave a quiet knock. "Kev," she started slowly. "Can I come in?" she asked, choking back tears.