(Untitled)

[boss_ofme]

On the last day of January, Emma Skillpa found a bag.

It sat in the kitchen, seemingly abandoned, a bright smudge of pink on the otherwise colorlessly industrial counter top. She approached it apprehensively, glancing around to see if the owner might be nearby, but hanging from the handle was a tag with two words printed neatly on it.

Emma

Comments

[legendarymadman]

"Easy," says Geoffrey, hand in the middle of her back only to prevent the inevitable collision and not in an effort to be overly familiar. "You're about to back into traffic."

Though traffic is something of an overstatement since there's no one but him in her path. Still, islanders aren't known for watching where they're going when heading for something to eat, and someone could come dashing round that corner at any moment. God knows it's happened to him.

[boss_ofme]

Emma let out a startled yelp, jolting away from the hand resting on her back, however gentle it might have been.

"Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry," she said, a hand flying to splay against her chest in hopes of possibly calming the hammering of her heart, just behind her breastbone. "I don't know what came over me."

[legendarymadman]

"It's not like there haven't been much more dire collisions in the past," says Geoffrey, moving out of her personal space. "God knows no one looks where they're going around here at feeding time. Do you know if there's anything left? I'd rather not cook, given the choice."

[boss_ofme]

"You know, I haven't even looked yet. There was that bag, there, and I suppose I got distracted," she admitted, embarrassed by her own anxiousness. It was just a chocolate bar. John was long gone, she'd proved that by how long she'd been in control of things.

"I'd be happy to make you something. It's no trouble."

[callofkaren]

Karen let out a small yelp as she avoided Emma's sudden move back. doing her best to avoid spilling her coffee as well. Her free hand came up to Emma's back, steadying her. "Careful," she said, putting her coffee down on the counter. "Are you okay?"

[boss_ofme]

Hands flying to her mouth, Emma muffled her own startled gasp, turning to make sure she hadn't gone and splattered Karen with hot coffee or something equally careless.

"Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry. I thought I was alone. Are you all right?"

[callofkaren]

"I'm okay, I promise," she assured, holding both hands up to show she was fine. "You just startled me, that's all. Are you okay?"

[boss_ofme]

"I'm fine. Really, I'm fine. That bag... I wasn't expecting to see my name on it, that's all," she said, the lie slipping out with startling ease. "It's a gift, isn't it? From the island? I've never gotten one before."