Growing up Emma always loved art. It was her favorite thing about life. There were many different forms of art, and each one was expressive in its own way. Art told a story that many people could only understand by looking in between the fine lines placed on the page by the artists. The community that she grew up in was full of art. It lined walls and sat on desks, and was even plastered on billboards. That was all until two years ago. There was a new government set in place, and they did not like art at all.The lead woman despised it. “Art has corrupt meanings behind it, the lives of our people aren’t safe,” Mrs. Mills stated on live television when she announced that all forms of art would now be considered illegal, and anyone caught with it or making it would be thrown in jail.
“That’s absolute bul-”
“Emma Lynn,” her mother scolds lightly. Emma shrunk in her seat and avoided her mothers gaze. “While I agree with whatever was to come out of your mouth, we have no say and Roni has made that very clear.” Emma’s mother was a former artist, but she gave up the hobby because of severe carpal tunnel in her wrists. Surgery had fixed it, but she couldn’t paint after all of the damage done from years of ignoring the pain.
“It’s Regina,” Emma corrects, earning an eye roll from her mother.
“For someone who seems to hate this woman and everything about her, you sure do correct me about her a lot,” Mary says, scoffing lightly.
“She might arrest you for messing up her name. Wouldn’t want to take that chance,” Emma states. She looks over at the clock and mentally curses herself. “Crap, I have to go.” Emma stands and rushes to grab her things.
“Your shift doesn’t start for another half an hour, you still have time,” Mary tells her.
“I’m meeting up with Ruby, so I won’t have enough time to get to work on time if I don’t leave now,” Emma explains. She kisses her mother on the cheek and rushes out of the house. She takes her normal route to Ruby’s house until she knows her mother cannot see her, and then changes directions. She takes a left on Nesmith street and heads towards the empty warehouse she had been going to every chance she got. This building was forgotten about when MillsCo went out of business, so Emma took it upon herself to make use of it. She gathered up the leftover art supplies in the warehouse, and even brought her own and began painting in secret.
She opens the door at the back of the building and slips inside quietly. She turns on the lights because painting in the dark would be messy, and a mess makes evidence. The lights flicked on one by one, revealing all of the paintings she has done in her lifetime, including ones from the last two and a half years. Emma lets out a gasp when her most recent canvas comes into view. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out, Emma?” the woman asks.
“Regina let me explain, please,” Emma pleads. “It’s-”
“It’s not what it looks like?” Regina cuts her off. “Is that what you’re about to say to me? Because it looks like my girlfriend has been sneaking off at night or in the middle of the day, breaking my laws,” she says, losing the calmness in her tone.
“Okay, so maybe that is what it looks like, but you can’t expect me to be okay with your laws just because you mean something to me,” Emma argues.
“That’s exactly why you should be okay with them!” Regina snaps. “I should g have to wonder why you’re sneaking away from me and keeping secrets, staying up and overthinking the possibility of you having an affair.”
“I would never, I lo-” Emma cuts herself off. “I would never do that.”
“I wish that would’ve been the case,” Regina says. “I wouldn’t have to have you arrested if you were,” she adds.
“Please,” Emma says, tears beginning to form in her eyes. “Don’t do this Gina,” she begs. It doesn’t matter though, because Regina has made up her mind. Emma feels a strong set of hands grasp her arms and place them behind her back.
“Emma Swan, you’re under arrest for making art and being in possession of illegal contraband,” a Bostonian police officer says, before reading Emma her rights.
“You can’t do this!” Emma shouts. “You have to see how wrong you are!”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Emma. I know this is what’s right.” Nobody says another word as Emma is dragged out of the warehouse. Hundreds of Boston citizens watch as she is stuffed into the back of a squad car. Ruby is one of them, tears shining in her eyes. She had known about Emma’s art and Emma’s relationship with Regina. She warned her that neither was a good idea, but Emma didn’t care.
Emma didn’t see another human being for three days. She refused to see anyone. This wasn’t right at all. She should be at work right now, making more money to do the things she loves, but instead she is sitting in a cell, awaiting a trial that there really isn’t a point to. She will be sentenced to life no matter how many people argue against it. The entire area that Emma occupied was quiet, so the sound of the cell door clunking was unmistakable. The door slid open and closed very quickly. She didn’t bother to turn towards whoever was in the room with her. “Explain it to me,” Regina says from the door. Emma didn’t answer her. “Emma,” Regina calls.
“Why, so you can just ignore everything I say and send me to trial anyway?” Emma asks, ignoring the use of her first name. Emma scoffed and kept her body facing away from Regina.
“I want to hear your thoughts and feelings,” Regina says. She almost sounds like she cares, but Emma won’t be fooled. Regina really showed her care three days ago.
“You don’t deserve them!” Emma snapped, finally turning towards Regina. She looked rough. Her hair was frizzy and her eyes were red rimmed and puffy. Emma ignored how she was feeling because Regina had done that to her earlier this week. “You didn’t bother to listen to me when you had me arrested and thrown in the back of a squad car in front of the whole town, so why should you have the privilege to listen now?” Emma asks, the question obviously rhetorical. Regina didn’t catch that.
“Because I wasn’t ready, but maybe I am now,” She states. Regina took a step closer to Emma, but stopped herself short, “I want to be proved wrong,” she says, barely above a whisper. Emma almost didn’t hear her.
“And why would that be?” Emma asks. “Why do you ‘want to be proved wrong’ so badly?” she asks, quoting Regina.
“Because I can’t lose you,” Regina admits weakly. “You mean too much to let go.”
“Then you should’ve never let me go,” Emma said, turning back towards the wall. Regina didn’t move for a while, but when she did, it broke something inside of Emma. This was it. It was over.
A week later, six hours before the trial was due to start, a duffel bag and a key was placed in her cell while she slept. There was a note on the side of the bag.
Emma,
I tried to fix it. I know I should’ve listened to what you said. I’m an idiot for that. I talked to your mom since you wouldn’t, and she made me see what it was to understand the artist. I’m sorry that I couldn’t see past the things I was taught in Yanna. Did you know laws are almost impossible to get rid of than they are to make? Neither did I. They are doing everything they can to make sure that I can’t change what I’ve done.
In the bag, there is a key to get you out of there and everything you will need to escape Boston. Please be safe. I will have transportation waiting for you, and I will make sure it’s safe for you.
-Love Regina.
p.s. Please never forget that the sun rises and sets with your smile.
Emma didn’t waste any time. she acted quickly and slipped from the cell, leaving no trace of her behind. The car was exactly where Regina said it would be. Emma opened the door and crawled into the backseat. She wasn’t alone. “I couldn’t go through with it,” Regina says. “You mean more than any stupid law from Yanna.”
“Do you mean that?” Emma asks. Regina nods.
“Of course I do, Emma,” Regina states. “I love you, and I was so blinded by the manipulation of Yanna’s government that I couldn’t see the truth,” she admits. Emma feels a smile tugging at her lips as she squeezes Regina’s hand.
“I love you too,” Emma says. Regina smiles back at the younger woman, thankful that Emma even stayed in the car when she saw that she wasn’t empty. Hell, she was thankful that Emma read her note and actually left everything behind. As the car passed Boston’s borders, Emma and Regina felt all of their worries slip away. They would be able to return to Boston one day, and when they did, they would change everything that Regina wrongfully put in place.