Illusions (Alt. Ending)

Chapter 12 (PAST)

FRANCESSA'S POV

Uncle Dave's house was a gothic manor. Black & grey, the only colors of the house I could see except for the golden lamps. The place was secluded. The distance between each of the houses were too much.

Uncle Dave and Alex guided me inside before Uncle Dave showed me the room I'll be staying in. They moved all my belongings from the car into that room. Once done, both of them left. I was alone for the first time. Alone.

I walked near to those pictured windows. They were big and gave a full view of the scenery, the backyard, the lake and the dense forest across to it. I stood there for a long time and saw the blue light of evening turning into the dark of night.

There was a knock on my door. I stayed unmoved. I'd no intention of having anyone's company, not even Alex. There was an another knock and another before the door creaked open.

A silence before a female voice comes from my back with a sound of porcelain clinking with glass. " Here's your dinner. "

I turned around to look at her. She's a middle-aged woman. Her hard eyes loosened a little bit when she saw my face. But they again became hard in few seconds. She cleared her throat and straightened her head. " I was told to bring your food to your room for seven days, deducting today six more days. After that— " Her head turns sharply in my direction. " After that, you've to go outside and have dinner on the dinning table. "

And she left.

Once the door closes, I turned back to face the windows. And stood there for many hours staring at the darkness, with Mom's book in one hand.

The next day, I woke up from sleep and found myself on the floor. My mind was blank. Completely blank & dark. Mom's book was lying before my eyes. The book!  I'd brought her book with me because of that line she had written at the end of the story. Even if you've no one and nothing to live for. Live for yourself.

I doubted I'll slip away this time. So, I needed to be reminded of what my mother would've said to me in this situation. What she would've wanted me to do. Even if you've no one and nothing to live for. Live for yourself. Live for yourself. Live for yourself. Live for yourself.

I need to be reminded constantly. Live Cissy.

Live. I get up swiping my tears. That's what my mother would've wanted. My jaw trembled bitterly and a series of little sobs escaped from my mouth. For me, to live on.

I looked around the room desperately, for a clock to check the time. When I found an alarm clock over the nightstand by the bed. It's seven in the morning.

Live Cissy!

I stood up from the floor and pulled open my luggage. My one hand took out the things I needed to clean myself and the other kept swiping away the tears. Grabbing all the belongings hurriedly, I rushed inside the bathroom.

And once I'm finally under the shower, I let my tears flow pretending the all that drained away from my body was water.

Finishing up taking shower and getting ready, I got back to the room. The untouched dinner kept on the coffee table earlier had been now replaced with fresh breakfast.