A Spark of Hope

Chapter 19- A Memory Plays

"Where are we going?"

"Just trust me." Hope said, pointing ahead.

It was like a movie was playing. Layla's eyes widened as she watched her parents sitting at the dinner table talking.

"She barely comes out of her room anymore." Janice sighed. "How long do you think this will last?"

David shrugged, seemingly unbothered. "Until she learns to accept it."

"She doesn't do anything. She doesn't paint... she hardly talks. I can't remember the last time she went stargazing..." Janice said, lost in thought.

"Is that necessarily a bad thing?"

Janice turned to him, glaring at him. "Of course it is!"

"Well maybe she'll finally let this dream go. It'll save her from a lot of pain and hardship down the road." he offered, thinking back to what he had gone through.

"But dreaming, art- it's her thing! It's what makes her who she is." she explained.

"I tried to do the same thing and let me tell you, it's a lot harder than you think to be creative in this world. That's why-" David began.

"That's why you're so harsh on her." she realized, staring at him.

David nodded slowly. "I don't want her to throw her life away for something that has a good chance of never working out." His head hung low as the words were finally spoken aloud.

Janice gently cupped his face, making him look at her. "We can't stop her from making mistakes. We can only guide her through them."

She wrapped her arms around her husband tightly as the memory began to fade.

Hope glanced towards Layla, "They're worried about you."

Layla was quick to shake her head at the statement. "No they aren't. They're trying to take away my dream."

"They are just worried. No parents want to watch their kids fail, you can't blame them for that." Hope reminded her.

"You don't understand-" She was quickly cut off by another memory taking form in front of her.

Her three brothers were sitting on the lawn, looking up into the night sky. Cameron had a book in his lap and he seemed to be flipping through pages rapidly, like he was searching for something that he had already found.

"What's that one called?" Oliver asked, pointing at a constellation.

Cameron paused, flipping to another page. "According to this, it's called Taurus. Apparently- wait... no that's Gemini I think."

Kylo glanced towards him. "Are you sure?"

Cameron glared at him, retorting, "Of course I'm sure!"

"Let me see that!" Kylo reached forward, trying to grab the book from his brother's hands. Cameron hid the book behind his back, refusing to let it go. The two brothers continued bickering as Oliver stared into the stars.

"I wish Layla was here."

Layla felt her heart break at his words. She looked away, staring into the darkness with tears in her eyes.

Cameron and Kylo stopped, looking at their little brother sadly. 

"Why didn't she come?" Oliver asked, glancing towards them with sad eyes.

Kylo sighed, "She hasn't been herself lately."

"I'll say." Cameron rolled his eyes.

"She just needs time to heal. She's not ready yet." Kylo spoke softly, looking into the sky once more.