"Stop playing with your food, Emily. It's going to get cold."
Emily locked eyes with the young man who sat across from her. "I'm not a child, Dean. And you're my husband, not..."
Dean raised his hands. "Sorry, I just want to make sure you eat properly. You've not been eating enough since..."
Emily grabbed the sterling silver salt shaker, and threw it. It grazed Dean's shoulder before smacking solidly on the wall.
Dean yelped in surprise, then jumped up and began cleaning up the mess.
Emily gasped, then stood. "I'm so sorry. Please, go get ready for your meeting. I'll eat the rest of my soup, then clean that up. I hope I didn't hurt you."
Dean went over to her, and began rubbing her shoulders. "No, you missed me by a mile. I'm going to cancel, and stay home today. Unless you'd like to go somewhere?"
Emily shook her head. "I'm fine. I'd really just like a little time alone."
Dean hugged her gently. "I don't want to leave you today."
She sighed. "I promise I'll eat this, and even make a sandwich a little later. I just need to do this my way. I do love you, but the best thing you can do right now is give me a little space."
He sighed. "If that's what you really want. I don't like it though."
She nodded. "It is."
Dean kissed her gently on top of her head, then quietly left the room.
Emily sat back down in front of her soup. "He's right, I need to eat it, not play with it."
She picked up the bowl and began to sip. But she didn't stop staring at the words spread out on her saucer. "Family. Mom. Dad. Tina. Robert. Car. Holiday. Acciden."
She put the bowl down, still savoring the rich warm liquid. Emily picked up her spoon and carefully fished out a t. She added it to the unfinished word.
"I know it was an accident, but why did it have to happen? It's just so wrong!"
Remembering her promise, she picked up the bowl and quickly finished the still warm and delicious soup, then rested her head on the table. She looked at the now complete words from the new angle, and noticed that some of them looked like they had doors hidden in their curves.
"I wish I was small enough to go through," she thought.
Her mind drifted back to happier times. A while later, the opening of one seemed much larger. She reached for it. "Wow. How is this possible?"
As her hand made contact with the soft moist surface, she pulled back and wiped her hand on her shirt. "This can't be a dream. I can feel the wetness!"
Emily composed herself, and reached out again. This time she pushed firmly, and an almost hidden door swung in.
She giggled, for the first time since the accident. "So the inside of a pasta letter looks just like Christianson Park?"
Emily enjoyed the hot summer sun shining on her face, as she strolled almost automatically towards the spot she'd spent so many happy hours as a child.
"I wonder if the lake is still as nice as I remember? I haven't seen it since I was a teenager!"
Curious, she began to walk faster. When she arrived, she gasped. A familiar blanket was laid over the soft, short grass. Two people lounged on it, their backs turned to her. The sun reflected off of the water, obscuring the faces of the two people in the lake.
She sprinted towards the family, almost tripping as she stopped at the edge of the blanket.
The two figures on the blanket turned, smiling happily. An older woman spoke. "Emily! We were told you might come for a visit, but I really thought it was too much to hope for. This just makes everything perfect. Do have some lunch."
Emily dropped to her knees, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she grabbed a hand in each of hers, and held them to her face. "Mom. Dad. I thought I'd never be with you again!"
Soon they were in a three way embrace. Once they'd finished their reunion, Mom, ever the practical one, dried her eyes and stood. "Robert! Tina! Your sister is here."
The two figures came out of the water, still laughing, and ran over. They flopped down next to Emily, playfully flicking water on her from their hair.
She laughed, then grabbed both of them in a tight bear hug, which they returned.
Dad cleared his throat. "Emily, you're probably wondering how or even if this is happening. Well it is, and there's a reason. It was our time to move on, but in doing so you were left behind. You still have important things to do in your world. But you can't do them if you bury yourself in grief."
Emily's eyes began to fill with tears. "But why? Why couldn't you have stayed at least a few more years? And why all of you?!?!"
Dad put his hand on her shoulder. "I can't talk about that, but just know that we are needed here and you are needed there. You'll understand one day."
She swallowed the lump in her throat, and nodded. "Can we at least visit every so often?"
Mom shook her head. "I'm sorry, Honey. Even this one time was a very rare exception. We just need you to know we're safe and happy, so you can go on with your life."
She hugged Mom tightly. "It's just not fair. I won't let you go, I'll stay here."
Mom gently rubbed her back. "You'll see us again. Just not right away. But believe me, life goes a lot quicker than you think. You have everything you ever said you wanted when you were little, and more. I'm so proud of you! Go live your life to the fullest. For me?"
Emily gave one final squeeze, then released her. Unable to speak, she nodded.
Dad wiped his cheek. "We have until sunset. Are we going to enjoy this beautiful day, or waste it being sad that we won't be together again for a while?"
Emily looked at her parents. Obviously worried for her, their muscles were tight, and their eyes glistened.
She forced a smile, then shoved her brother, causing him to sit down hard on the blanket. "Last one in the water is a rotten egg!"
As the sun began to dip low, Emily wiped some chocolate icing from her lips. "I'm going to miss all of you so much, but I do feel better now. I hope you will enjoy this beautiful place, and know I'll always be thinking about you."
After several more attempts at saying their goodbyes, Emily finally turned towards the lane leaving the park. Soon she was touching the moist surface of the pasta alphabet again.
"Emily? Are you alright?"
Emily faintly heard the words, and felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She raised her head, and blinked.
Dean was staring at her, his mouth open. "What happened? How can I help? You're still sitting here with your soup bowl, but your shirt and hand are all wet and slimy. Is that chocolate cake on your breath? We didn't have any in the house, did someone stop by?"
Emily looked at the last rays of the setting sun reflecting off of the table, and smiled. She found that she actually meant it. "I'll tell you one day, but for now, just know that I'm ready to go on with life."
Dean nodded, his jaw tight. "Whenever you're ready. I'm so sorry I was gone all day, it was one thing after another. Tomorrow I'm not going anywhere."
Emily looked at the words on the saucer. "Actually there's a nice little park close to where I grew up. I'd like to take you there tomorrow, and when we get there I promise I'll tell you all about my day."
**Cover image made in Canva Pro using their AI generator **