Unfamiliar Territory

I'm outside Emma's bedroom door, pacing, while Mariam is inside talking to Emma. I hope that they work out Emma's problem so that I don't have to be worried that Emma will explode again. The first time was enough for me.

I'm so confident that Mariam will solve this that I don't listen in on their conversation. Also, it would be rude to be in on such a private conversation. I probably wouldn't comprehend all of Emma's feelings, anyway. I just have to wait and see what happens.

So I do. I wait.

And I begin to get nervous when Mariam and Emma don't come out of the room for over an hour. I gnaw on my bottom lip and sit on the ground, my foot jiggling. Richard comes around to see if everything is okay and I have to wave him off. He understands and says he'll come back later if things are still unresolved.

But things eventually do get resolved. Excited, though I'm not entirely sure why, I jump up from the ground as Emma's door finally opens. Mariam steps out of the room and holds out her ha