SHADOW PLAY (SYLUS)

7

Regina entered her tiny apartment, craving solitude before heading to Sylus's home. That place, much like Sylus himself, always left her feeling uneasy, never allowing her to breathe freely.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The sense of being home felt more tangible. Regina plopped onto the bed and exhaled deeply.

She reached for a picture on the shelf beside her—a photo of her with her father and mother when she was six, her face lit with a joyful smile.

“What should I do, Mom?” she whispered, gently touching her mother’s face in the picture.

Her heart sank.

Her mom had been a beautiful woman, She was a model, not a well-known model, but she did enough work to keep busy.

Her father, a photographer, had fallen in love with her at first sight during a photo shoot.

They had been inseparable ever since, dating for four years before getting married. Together, they created a small but loving family of three.

But when Regina was just eight years old, everything changed. A tragic accident left her mother bedridden, clinging to life for two agonizing years.

Regina had watched helplessly as her once-vibrant mother slowly faded, until the day she closed her eyes forever.

The warmth and happiness of their home never felt the same after that.

After her mother’s death, her father fell into a deep depression.

He gave up photography entirely, taking on random jobs just to keep them afloat.

To make sure Regina could continue her studies, he began taking out loans, sinking them further into debt.

By her second year of high school, the weight of it all became too much for him to bear.

One day, without warning, he ended his life, leaving everything behind—his struggles, his debts, and Regina. Alone.

Tears welled up in her eyes as memories of the good and bad times with her family flooded her mind.

She hugged the photo tightly, seeking comfort in the one piece of her past she had left.

The exhaustion of her life weighed heavily on her, and as she held the picture close, she finally closed her eyes, letting the weariness wash over her.

Time slipped away, and Regina slowly opened her eyes.

Reality hit her hard as she quickly sat up. It was already dark outside, and panic surged through her.

Glancing at the clock, she realized it was past 7. In a rush, she gathered her things, heart racing, and hurried out the door.

She ran through the bustling crowds until she finally reached his home. Once inside, she took a moment to calm her racing heart.

“Sir?” she called out, but the hallway was empty. Uncertainty crept in—was he home?

It was already past his dinner time, and she felt the urge to apologize for being late and ask if she needed to prepare dinner.

Regina made her way to his room and knocked on the door.

“Sir?” she called, but there was no response. “Sir?” she knocked again, growing more anxious.

The silence continued, leading her to wonder if he might not be home at all. With a hesitant twist of the doorknob, she pushed the door open.