Emily is a work of fiction written by Dianne J.
Beale. Any similarities to actual persons, either
living or dead, are merely coincidental. People,
events, names, places, and all other content are
products of the author’s imagination and are
not to be mistaken or perceived as real.
© Copyright 2000, 2008 by Dianne J. Beale. All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be
reproduced, except for brief quotations in
articles or reviews, without written permission
from the author.
Acknowledgments
It occurs to me that I don’t thank
my parents often enough. It is they who
taught me to always ask questions and
to research thoroughly; there are two
sides to every story, even if you’d prefer
that the other not get out.
This was often the case when two
of us siblings would rush to our
parents, trying to outrun one another.
The two stories were seldom the same—
we’d each tell our tale of woe only to
have it pieced together, with the other,
for a more accurate view of the truth.
I offer thanks to my parents for
believing in me and for encouraging me.
I thank them for teaching me to think
for myself. They continue to be a
blessing in my life and I am grateful, to
them, for my Christian Heritage.
Emily
By Dianne J. Beale
Table of Contents
Prologue .................................................................... 1
Chapter 1................................................................... 4
RUGBY DAY ............................................................. 4
Chapter 2................................................................. 19
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT ............................ 19
Chapter 3................................................................. 28
A GOOD CATHOLIC .............................................. 28
Chapter 4................................................................. 36
NOT HER FAULT ................................................... 36
Chapter 5................................................................. 43
A PERSON WITH DEPTH ..................................... 43
Chapter 6................................................................. 56
IT HAD TO BE REAL ............................................. 56
Chapter 7................................................................. 65
MISSED OPPORTUNITY ....................................... 65
Chapter 8................................................................. 72
FREE PIZZA ............................................................ 72
Chapter 9................................................................. 74
FOREVER THE FLIRT ............................................ 74
Chapter 10............................................................... 79
WHY CAN’T I HAVE HIM? .................................. 79
Chapter 11............................................................... 87
MARY MAGDALENE ............................................. 87
Chapter 12............................................................... 92
RAZORS AGAINST MY HEART ............................ 92
Chapter 13............................................................... 97
A PERSON HAS TO EAT ....................................... 97
Chapter 14............................................................... 99
THEY HIT ME IN THE HEAD ............................... 99
Chapter 15............................................................. 105
PLAYING GAMES ................................................ 105
Chapter 16............................................................. 107
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE ................................... 107
Chapter 17............................................................. 111
MARILOU ............................................................. 111
Chapter 18............................................................. 116
NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY ............................... 116
Epilogue................................................................. 118
Ǥ
The dream haunts me whenever
stress creeps into my life. I casually
walk along the familiar, well-lit corridor,
watching the numbers change from
door to door. I come to the end of the
hall and knock on the door that is next
to the shared lounge. There is no
answer.
As I turn to go, he catches my
arm. I am pushed against the cold,
white wall and his face covers mine. His
tongue forces open my lips and my
stomach fills with a disgust that I can
taste.
I break free and force my legs to
walk to the stairs. The stride is long and
strong, projecting a false confidence.
When I arrive at my hall, I instead
continue down the stairs. I find myself
pushing my way out of the double doors
and into the cold air. The snow settles
on my face and then melts.
Logic takes over and I force myself
to enter the doors that lead to the other
side of the building. I go to Tim’s, but he
is not there. His roommate invites me
1
Ǥ
in; I politely thank him, declining, and
return to my room for my books and a
jacket.
I go to the library and fold myself
over a small desk that is protected by a
closed cubicle. I lay out a book, a
notebook, and a pen—they are merely
for appearance.
I release the previously caged
tears and allow them to silently slide
down my face. My first kiss—stolen—an
unwanted tongue jammed down my
throat while forceful fingers dug into my
back.
Bile, again, rises into my mouth
and I push it down with an exaggerated
swallow. At the time, I recalled only the
kiss and the feelings it entrenched:
mistrust, anger and death. But in my
dream, she stands nearby... she is
triumphantly watching.
ܖ
I remember how the leaves
crackled beneath my sneakers as I
walked along the blacktopped paths
and headed for the first class of the day.
The sun seemed to be traveling with me
and I raised my face upward, sending
2
Ǥ
forth a smile while shielding my eyes
with my hand. I was carefree.
What I did not realize was how
dark this day would someday prove to
be. Although there was not a cloud in
the sky, I met a walking, breathing
cloud. Her name was Emily—Emily
Flint.
She looked harmless enough, but
storms were about to make their way
into my life. And unfortunately, I would
allow the rain to collect steadily and
ignore the flood warnings until it was
almost too late.
Everyone seemed to like her. Well,
everyone except Tim. I'd met Tim the
semester before; he and I had become
instant friends.
And he did not like Emily. Emily,
to him, represented all that was
artificial—all that was ugly. He did not
trust her.
But I didn't listen. I befriended
her anyhow. In fact, we began to do
most everything together...
