Emma smiled softly . There are no secrets in front of someone who truly loves you . " Grandma . " She slipped her arm through her grandmother's and leaned on her shoulder . " I want to go away to study . What do you think ? " Her grandmother was the only person she could really open up to . Hearing this , her grandmother's eyes sparkled . " Of course ! I've still got some money saved up - don't you worry . " Emma felt her eyes sting and hugged her grandmother tightly around the waist . " Grandma , I have money now . " Only her grandmother had always supported her , no matter what . " That's wonderful , Emmie , but what's yours is yours . Grandma's got a little nest egg just for you too . " Her grandmother stroked her hair and spoke gently . " Grandma ... " Emma melted into her grandmother's affection , but worry tugged at her heart . " But if I go away , I might be gone for years . What if I miss you ? " " Silly girl , if you miss me , just call me on video . I'm still young , you know ! I'll be right here at home , not going anywhere . And when my Emmie comes back to start her life , I'll be waiting for you . If you decide to live abroad , then I'll go with you . But promise me , you won't think of me as a burden , okay ? " " Grandma ! How could you say that ? " Emma said quickly . " Someday , I'll take you to see the world . We'll travel everywhere together ! " Her grandmother laughed and hugged her , patting her back just like she had when Emma was little and couldn't sleep . " Well then , I'll be waiting for my Emmie to take me on our grand adventure . " That night , Emma slept next to her grandmother . It rained again in the middle of the night . Lying there , Emma suddenly understood why she always slept so soundly on rainy nights . When she was a child , she would curl up with her grandmother on stormy evenings . Her grandmother would stroke her hair , tell her stories , and the sound of the rain outside would blend with her soft voice , soothing Emma into the deepest sleep . 1/3 11:54 Chapter 45 After that , her grandmother never again asked about Theodore or whether they'd argued . Emma realized her grandmother hadn't needed to ask - she probably understood everything without a word . She slept so peacefully that morning , not waking until the sun was high overhead . There was no alarm to jolt her awake . Only then did she remember she'd forgotten to charge her phone last night . It must have died . But she didn't really feel like turning it back on . For now , being disconnected from the world felt wonderfully freeing . After a night of rain , the morning sun was bright , but the air still carried the rich , damp scent of earth - a smell you only ever find in the countryside . Her grandmother wasn't home ; she'd probably gone out to buy breakfast . Emma stepped into the yard and took a deep breath . In one corner stood a sunroom , its glass walls gleaming in the morning light . Inside , it was empty except for a ballet barre . This had once been her practice studio . She hadn't set foot in there for five years ; it was probably a storage room by now . But she no longer felt afraid of her memories . She found herself walking over and turning the door handle . She stopped short the moment she stepped inside . It was spotless . Not a speck of dust , not a single box out of place - just as it had been five years ago . She ran her fingers along the barre . Not even a trace of dust clung to her hand . Had her grandmother been cleaning this room every day ? The sunroom's high glass ceiling allowed room for her leaps and spins - her grandmother had commissioned it just for her . Emma couldn't resist . She drew back all the curtains , letting sunlight flood in from every angle . Standing at the barre , her muscles began to itch with an old , familiar longing . 213 11.54 Chapter 45 At last , she lifted her injured leg and rested it on the barre . A surge of emotion rose from deep within her . As tears welled in her eyes , she leaned forward and stretched , letting her soul remember what it had always loved . Chapter 46 Chapter 46