𝕻𝖗𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙

Phase 2: Descent

[Narrator]

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" called Rachel while untying her shoelace.

"Oh hey sweetie. Your mum's upstairs. She has been waiting for you to come back. I guess she missed you so much. No, too much", said Rachel's dad with a slight smile on his face.

"Nah, I'm sure she's just bored, laying on her bed all day."

Rachel's dad, Tom Woods was a farmer. For the past 30 years of his existence, he has been breeding cows, goats, sheep, and even horses. He also loved gardening. Especially flowers and vegetables. It's quite usual for people who live in a small, console village.

Rachel loved feeding and playing with those animals ever since she was a tiny little girl. She would even name all of them. Last year, a lamb she named Fluffy died due to malnutrition. Well, she did pity the poor creature, but she was more worried about her mother having the same disease as well. Every night, she would pray, kneeling, wrapping her palms together, hoping God would make her beloved mum stay fit again.

"Took the bus?" asked Mr. Woods while feeding hay to the horses.

" Oh yeah. I found a free bus along the way."

"Ahh, I see. How's school? Did anything happen today?"

"No, just a regular day at school with Lexy", Rachel lowered her head.

"Did Mrs. Conner scold you for being late again?"

"How did you-"

"She called me right after your Biology class ended. Why were you always late?" Her dad was pretty calm. Rachel really taught she might get a fearsome slap.

"I had to buy some antibiotics for mum. I didn't really inform the teacher about her having malnutrition, so I told her that she had flu. I guess it wasn't really a big deal for a teacher like her."

"Still, you could always ask me for hel-"

"No, dad. Just no. You're worn-out too. I don't want to trouble you so much. You and mum had raised me for so long with uncountable love and compassion. This is the best I can do to repay you", Rachel uttered those words right from her delicate heart. She never had the intention to talk back at her parents. They were her world, her cosmos, her everything.

Her dad teared up a little and hugged her tightly. Rachel had never in her life seen a teardrop on a man's face before. She did watch movies with them crying though. But not in real life. And she was happy to see that her dad was her first experience.

"Aww, dad. You've got hay all over my hair," chuckled Rachel.

"Oh haha, sorry sweetheart. I'll go wash up and prepare dinner", sniffed her dad.

"Now what was my short pep talk all about just now? You have completely forgotten, didn't you? I'll make dinner right now. End of discussion."

"Fine. Make sure you don't burn our kitchen down. We don't want the animals to go sober after smelling something burning in our house."

"Dad please. I've cooked so many times. Today's special. It's all on me."

"Ohhh can't wait then. Go on now. Hurry!"

"Haha alright then. Let me check on mum first. Have patience your Majesty", she bowed, jokingly.

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"Mum!"