Emma

"I just don't understand why you had to leave home."

Emma Welsh tried to navigate her suitcase through the slender aisle of the train. "Look Mum, can we have this conversation later? The train just arrived and I'm trying to get off. If we could just —"

But her mother wasn't listening. "I just — you didn't have to go to university all the way in London. I mean, you would think after your brother … " Her mother's voice trailed off.

Emma put a hand up in apology to the man whose foot she'd nearly rolled over. "Mum, for the last time, I'm not him. And this is a really good opportunity for me. University of West London! Come on! It's a great university. It's a great program."

"And about that program — I mean, honestly, photography? You couldn't take something practical, like Business Administration?"

Emma dragged her suitcase and readjusted her backpack as she stepped down off the stairs to the platform. "Mum, can we please just have this conversation at another time? I just need to sort myself, okay?"

"Well, if you're too busy for your mother."

Emma knew this tactic well — guilt. And man, had her mother perfected it. For the last six months, ever since she'd said she wanted to do a Master's in Photography at the University of West London, her mother had been all over her. Emma understood all the reasons her mother didn't want her to go, but that still didn't mean she had to live her life shut in a small town, not allowed to do anything or ever go anywhere. How was she ever supposed to do anything if she was trapped? All she wanted was freedom to make her own mistakes.

Her heart twinged even as she thought of her brother. She missed him terribly but it wasn't fair that her mother used her brother against her. They were two different people. Not that different. Yes, okay, they had the same type of personality. They needed their freedom. And they had a serious enthusiasm for life.

The difference was, while her brother's sense of both freedom and adventure had been nurtured from the time he was young, Emma's had not. So it was at the point that the bow was breaking. She either had to get out of her small town of Tenworth, or die a slow death, then eventually marry some poor, sad man who would also have given up on his dreams. Or one who was quite happy to never do anything else but live in their small village.

That wasn't for her. She at least had to see. She loved her small coastal village. She loved where she'd grown up, but she'd always felt a little trapped. It was like a hug that was far too tight with no room to move or breathe.

London wasn't like that. While her mother jabbered on, she reached into her backpack, swinging it around. Then she reached into the front pocket so she could pull out the small, sky blue planner that held her life. She checked the instructions she had written for herself about which exit to use and the location of her flat. When she thought she had it, she shoved the planner back in its pocket and swung her backpack back over her shoulder. "Mum, we've had this argument. I'm not coming back. What? I'm supposed to just call the University of West London and tell them, 'Oh, I've changed my mind!'?"

The crowd jostled her and she tried to get her footing. Which exit? The north one, right? Maybe she should just hold on to her planner right now. "Mum, I honestly have to go."

"Fine, if you don't have time for me, I'll just nip off then. As if you would even call me when you arrive."

"Jesus Christ, Mum! I will call you as soon as I get to the flat, okay?"

"How do I even know you're staying somewhere safe? What if you get attacked and murdered and I don't even know where you are?"

"Oh my God! You have the flat address. I posted it to the fridge. You have my new phone number which I also emailed. You have pictures of the flat. I will send you a proof of life as soon as I arrive. You have nothing to worry about. Now, I love you, but I'm hopping off." She hung up and then winced. Bollocks.

But honestly, both of her brothers had left home years ago. Steven was now in the Royal Coastguard. Some of the adventures he talked about! Honestly, he was risking his life every day.

Ben, had run off from home as soon as he'd been able. He had been the first one to try to run away from their small town as quickly as possible. But he'd chased his freedom at a cost.

Steven had the advantage of being away from home when their world had come crashing down two years ago. His car crash had changed everything.

After losing her son, their mother had never recovered. Unfortunately for Emma, that meant that her parents had all of a sudden tried to hold on to their youngest even tighter. That also meant the straightjacket only tightened around Emma.

Emma had stayed home for uni. Mostly, it was a financial thing. It had been cheaper for her parents, easier to commute. The local university near Tenworth had been small. It had a tiny Liberal Arts program, but that wasn't what she wanted to do with her life. She'd studied business then to make her parents happy because it was practical. But she had applied to the University of West London to do her master's. And now she had the opportunity to work with Xander Chase.

She'd never had a formal photography class ever. But when she sent in her portfolio of photos she'd taken, she had been accepted. And as a bonus, she'd gotten a scholarship, so her parents couldn't complain about the cost. That didn't stop her mother from trying, though.

As soon as she took the North Exit, she jogged to the steps and then frowned when the signage didn't look as she had expected. She swung her backpack once more to pull out her planner and didn't find it in the front pocket where she placed it. What the hell? She searched the other pocket and couldn't find it. Did she put it in the main compartment?

Shifting to the side to get out of the swell of pedestrian traffic, her heart thudded as she bent down and opened her backpack. Inside the main compartment, she'd shoved her keys for her new flat. She had a few books. Her camera was carefully in its case. She'd shipped ahead all her other camera equipment. But in her front pocket she had her favorite lenses, her planner and her wallet. Shit! Someone had nicked them.

Slowly the panic started to slither in. That planner had her whole life in it. And her wallet. Not that she had much money in there and she could replace the cards. But this was the worst possible thing that could have happened.

Deep breath. You can do this.

Maybe her mother was right? No. Just think. Easy, you can do this. This is part of the adventure. All you have to do is find your address, and you'll be okay.

Even as her eyes stung, her brain started to race, trying to think of all the things she had to do, trying to keep track of how she could possibly find out where she was supposed to be. She'd sent Steven her address because he had insisted. She could always call him. No, don't call Steven. He will freak out that you were so irresponsible. Okay, then what?

Think. Think. Think. How in the world was she going to make this work? And then it hit her. Her friend from uni, Laila, was meeting her tonight which meant Laila had her address. Laila had helped her find a place. Hopefully Laila had kept track. Better track than she had. She found a café at the corner of the station and sat down holding her backpack between her knees. Like hell she was going to lose anything else today. With one hand on her suitcase, she speed—dialed Laila.

"Hi love. Are you here? I'll pop over — "

"Laila, do not yell."

Her friend sighed. "Oh no Ems, what have you done?"

"It's not my fault, but it seems I've been nicked. My whole life is gone."

"Oh, are you serious?"

"Yeah, I am, unfortunately."

"Oh, don't worry. Look, how many appointments can you have already? We'll get it back. And even if we don't we can get you a new one."

Emma's stomach flipped. "Well, about that. It's not so much about replacing it as it is about what's in it. I don't even have my own bleeding address."

Laila was silent for a moment, "Oh Ems, please tell me you're joking."

"No, I'm not joking. I wish I was. It was written down with directions and everything and I just —"

Laila sighed. "Okay, I've got you. Let me get out of Tesco and get back to my flat. I'll see if I can pull the address for you. "

"Oh my God, you're a godsend."

"Don't you forget it."

"Of course, this would've happened to me. I was talking to my Mum at that time."

"Say no more." Her friend laughed. "I would have been distracted too. Don't worry, we'll get this sorted. You always said you wanted an adventure, so welcome to London."

"Yeah, welcome to London indeed. Let's just hope my mother wasn't right and I'm not making the biggest mistake of my life."

Her friend tsked. "I'll have none of that. You came here for an adventure, so we're going to have one. Now, all I have to do is find your flat address. Then you'll be on your way."

"Hey, Laila?"

"Yeah, Ems?"

"Thank you. I have done the right thing, haven't I?"

"Absolutely! It's time to live your life. But maybe we start small with the next adventure, yeah?"

Emma just laughed as she hung up with her friend. Everything was going to be okay. Her mother was not right. Doing this was not a mistake. Her freedom was at stake. She wasn't going back.

***

Emma

This was it.

Emma took a deep breath and grimaced as she looked around the flat, unable to contain her disgust ... no, excitement. She was finally here. With a little elbow grease this place would shine.

Okay, maybe not shine. But it was hers. After months of careful planning and worrying about everything that could go wrong, she was finally here. A small one—room place not far from the university, it was smaller than her parents' sitting room. But it was cheap, and the landlord seemed to be a nice enough gentleman that would look out for her or at least look out for his investment.

The rent had taken a chunk out of her savings, but it was essential if she wanted this experience. If she wanted this new life. The flat had the added benefit of being far away from her parents. So, there was that.

She didn't have much. Reaching into one of the boxes marked with her name, Emma pulled out a few photos in frames and an unexpected wave of homesickness hit her hard.

It didn't matter that when she had dropped the bombshell that she was applying for the University of West London, her mum hadn't spoken to her for over a week. Maybe because uni had only been an hour away it felt like she was practically home.

Still, Emma touched the photos, setting them one by one on the shelf behind her small couch so that she could look at them often. She was a total family girl and though she knew she needed to take this step in her life, it did not mean that it wasn't going to be hard to be away. At least her enrollment this morning had gone well. The university was large, much larger than she had expected, and it would take her a good while to figure out how to even get around. Still, she was excited to be following her dream.

Her mobile rang and she searched through the crumpled up newspaper until she located it, holding it up to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, Bit." Steven's voice filled her ear, using her childhood nickname. She wasn't really sure, nor was the family, on how the name came about, but her brother used it often. "How's the unpacking going?"

She looked at the boxes and sighed. "It's going. I should be done in four years or so."

Steven chuckled. "How's the flat? Is it close to the tube?"

"Very," she assured him. "It's right down the street." For someone who had very little knowledge of the city, she couldn't be set up any better right now. "The place will do for now. The landlord is really nice."

"Good," Steven said. "I'm proud of you Emma, breaking out like this and getting out of that town. He would have been proud as well."

The mention of her older brother had her blinking back tears. Even after six years, his death still affected her. As Steven's twin, he had always been the wild one, compared to Steven's measured countenance. He'd been the first to leave home as soon as he could afford it and move to London.

She would never forget the night the police had arrived at their home to tell them that her brother had died in a car crash after a night of heavy drinking. They'd all been devastated by his death, none of them fully recovering. "Thanks," she said softly. "When are you coming to see my new place?"

"Soon," Steven said. There was muttering on the other line. "I gotta go. Love ya, sis. And make sure you get out a little. You can't be all work and no play."

"Yeah, I hear you. Love you too," she said before clicking off. It had been Steven who had supported her moving to London, coaxing their parents into agreeing that she needed to spread her wings. Steven had promised to look after her and she had no doubts that her brother would take care of her. He always did. With a sigh, she looked at the boxes that were still left to unpack. Time to get back to work.