The resemblance went past looks. Eric had the same big easy smile, not that she'd seen it much lately, same mannerisms and facial expressions. He was even built Like Steven, just under six feet, but with a rugged build both had gained from football and a love of the gym.

"This is for both of us," she continued.

"Eric, I know you hate talking about it, but what Ashley did ruined home for you too."

Eric looked away from her and she hesitated. Ashley and he had been together since seventh grade. What started as a cute little infatuation between two kids had blossomed into a seven year relationship that spanned high school and their first two years of college.

It had Eric investing in an engagement ring last year and even asking her father permission to ask her to marry him when they graduated before giving it to her. That old fashioned tradition had come from Steven who had done the same thing years ago before he proposed to her.

Then Eric had gotten a call from a fellow student telling him to get down to the restaurant he waited tables at. Eric had gone down there to see Ashley with his best friend of ten years, Mark.

Ashley was supposed to be working and here she was with his best friend. Eric had managed not to confront them. Instead, he waited outside and followed them to the hotel Mark worked at. Mark would often take keys to unoccupied rooms from the front desk and use them to fool around with girls.

Eric followed them from a distance and watched them go into a room together. He then knocked on the door. When Mark answered, shirtless, with Ashley visible, on the bed behind him barely dressed, Eric had beaten the shit out of him and ended up getting arrested.

Emma had bailed him out and later that night discovered from the mother of the student who had tipped Eric off that it had been going on for months. Her son hadn't wanted to get involved, but it bothered him to the point he had gone to her for advice and she'd told him Eric needed to know.

Eric was not only heartbroken, but betrayed by both the only girlfriend he'd ever had and his best friend. Things got even worse when once the secret was out he discovered many of his friends had known as well as some of Ashley's.

Eric was humiliated and upset to the point he quit school because he could no longer see her or his alleged friends anymore. Emma knew that wasn't the entire reason. Since Steven had passed, Eric's grades had been slipping and he'd mentioned leaving.

Emma used his father's dream of him graduating college and becoming an architect like him to guilt him into staying. It was a terrible thing to do in a sense. But she wanted the best for him, and he had two years invested. The Ashley ordeal was the final straw.

But it wasn't just school. In the months since, Eric was a shut in.

He had gone full time at the UPS store and when not working watched television or played video games. The only social life he had was when the two of them would go for dinner or have their Friday night movie tradition they'd had since he was a young boy.

In that instance, Emma herself was only slightly more social, occasionally going out with some friends. In the year since Steven's death she'd had two dates and both were horrible and because of her.

She'd been nervous, awkward and in both cases had all but physically pushed them away when they asked for a second date.

The second man had unknowingly taken her to the place Steven had proposed to her. No, this was the right move. Maybe a bit extreme as far heading back to the Midwest from Boston, but it was the right choice. No memories here other than the pleasant ones of her childhood.

“Eric, look at me."

When he shook his head, she put her hand on his shoulder.

“Look, if you don't want to talk, that's fine. But because you don't talk to me I made this decision on my own, so you can't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you," he whispered and she could hear he was choked up.

"I'm mad at life."

“Okay, that's fair. It's been kind of sucky for both of us. So when you don't like where you are in life, you change, right?"

“I guess."

“This is big for me too, hon. I sold the house and there's no going back. But that gave us plenty of money to do this and my firm got me an interview out here," she Laughed.