Page 93 of Deliverance

Hey, Steven. I just wanted to send you a message to let you know that I'm alive. It's a long story, but I thought you should know I'm okay now.

I'd already sent messages to Ember, Candace, and Krystal. The three of them were shocked and happy I was okay, and after telling them all the same story, we made plans to meet up for lunch or something soon. At that time, I didn't realize it would have to be super soon and that I would be moving across the country.

Steven was the last person I felt I needed to tell I was home. He had moved on, gotten married, and had children, and I was okay with it. I'd moved on too, and Ric made me happy. I was in love with my best friend. I had never felt that way with Steven. Yes, I had been in love with him and had wanted to marry him, but now my heart didn't feel the same way toward Steven as it did for Ric. I couldn't explain it other than when I thought about Ric, my heart felt happy.

I scrolled the feed, waiting to see if Steven would reply and seeing what everyone was up to. It was weird. For so long, I didn't know what was going on in the world or with my friends. Everyone had moved on. Ember was married, Candace no longer worked at Chadwick Royce High School, and Krystal was engaged to her daughter's father. So many people were now married and had kids, and it made me wonder if I would have eventually married Steven and had kids too, or married someone else, or had children in general. Seeing everyone's lives as I made my way down the feed made me envious of what they had. Would Ric and I get married? Have kids? Would we break up in the end even after everything we’d gone through?

After pouring my second cup of coffee, I saw that I had a message from Steven.

Steven Holmes

7:01 AM

Holy shit. Is this really you?

Erin Moreland

7:03 AM

Yeah, it really is.

Steven Holmes

7:03 AM

Prove it.

I took a picture and sent it to him.

Steven Holmes

7:04 AM

Oh my God. Where have you been?

Erin Moreland

7:04 AM

Long story short: I was kidnapped by a taxi driver, worked as a private teacher and sex slave to a mob boss and his sister-in-law, and escaped when their enemies came to hunt them down.

Steven Holmes

7:07 AM

Really? I don't even know what to say.

Erin Moreland

7:08 AM

Yeah. I know it's a lot to take in. I just wanted to reach out and tell you that I was alive and back home with my parents.

Steven Holmes

7:08 AM

I'm still in shock, but I'm glad you're okay. I need to head to work, but can we catch up later?