**Crossroads and Consequences**

The next morning, Charlie met Emily at a quaint coffee shop on the outskirts of town, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloping her as she pushed open the door. Emily was already seated at a small table by the window, sipping on a latte and typing away on her laptop. She looked up and caught Charlie's eye, a concerned expression etched on her face. Charlie slid into the seat across from Emily, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She had been looking forward to this conversation all night, her mind racing with thoughts and doubts about Travis and their relationship. "What's going on?" Charlie asked, signaling the barista for a coffee. Emily closed her laptop and leaned in, her voice low. "I've been doing some digging on Travis," she said, her eyes locked on Charlie's. "And I think you need to know what I've found." Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she felt a shiver run down her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to sound casual despite the growing unease in her stomach. Emily hesitated, glancing around the coffee shop before leaning in closer. "I've been talking to some people who know him, and let's just say that Travis has a bit of a reputation," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's got a history of being controlling and possessive in his relationships. There are rumors about him getting violent with his ex-girlfriends." Charlie's eyes widened as she felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She thought back to all the times Travis had gotten angry with her, all the times he'd shown up at her work or sent her multiple texts when she didn't respond right away. She had brushed it off as him being possessive or caring, but now she wasn't so sure. "Why didn't you tell me?" Charlie asked, feeling a mix of emotions: anger, hurt, and betrayal. Emily reached out and took Charlie's hand. "I was waiting for the right moment," she said. "I didn't want to freak you out or make you defensive. But now that you're thinking about committing to him, I had to say something." Charlie nodded, taking a deep breath as she processed everything. She thought about Travis's words, about how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But now, she wasn't so sure if that was what she wanted. As they sipped their coffee, Charlie told Emily about her conversation with Travis, about how he had asked her to commit to him. Emily listened intently, her expression growing more and more concerned. "You need to be careful, Charlie," Emily said, her voice firm. "You deserve so much better than someone who's going to control and manipulate you. You're an amazing person, and you shouldn't settle for anything less than what you want." Charlie nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Emily. She knew that she had to make a decision, and soon. But what was the right choice? And what would be the consequences of her decision? As they finished their coffee, Charlie's phone buzzed in her purse. She pulled it out and saw a text from Travis. "Hey baby, just wanted to check in. Can't stop thinking about you." Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she felt a pang of guilt. She knew that she had to respond, but she wasn't sure what to say. She looked up at Emily, who raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do?" Emily asked, her voice full of concern. Charlie took a deep breath, a sense of determination washing over her. "I'm going to take some time to think," she said. "And then I'm going to make a decision, no matter what it costs me."