The Day the World Went Silent

Chapter II

Her breathing was unsteady and her face was flushed with emotions. Her lungs expanded at every deep breath she took. Every emotion was just flowing through her body like a dramatic waterfall. Just emotion after emotion.

Phoebe's neck tensed as she put the car in park. Her parents driveway was quite large, which allowed her to park safely next to her mothers rusty 2000 Sudan. Phoebe was very grateful that she inherited her fathers 2000 lifted Jeep Wrangler instead of her mother's. Though, she would rather the ugly Sudan than her father being blind and deaf anyway. Unfortunately, life is not that nice, and never will be. The world will continue to throw obstacles at her whether she's ready or not.

A ruby-throated hummingbird perched on the hood of the car, flapping its feathers and bouncing. It bounced gracefully making the tiniest little tap on the hood of the car. Their peaceful nature allowed Phoebe to calm down and to breath steadily. After watching the peaceful bird, she decided she was ready to confront her parents about the awful situation she was in. After all, it's better now than never.

The sun was beginning to say goodbye as Phoebe started moving at a regular pace towards the front door. Her stroll was beginning to slow down, her pace steadying, allowing her heal to touch the ground before she moved her other foot.

The smell of flowers and grass filled her senses. Allowing the fresh air to fill and escape her lungs gently. Phoebe noticed her parents grass has been recently trimmed which explains the grass smell as she paced forward.

As she reached the front door she took a deep breath and knocked. Her knuckles clasped as she thumped against the wooden door. A few seconds go by and she is greeted by her mother with a shocked face as if she was not expecting her.

Phoebe's mother was extremely different from most mothers. She always liked wearing cardigans and loved the outdoors. She never went to bingo or any society groups for mothers, she just preferred the company of her own family. Most people would find that normal and quite common, but she would always refuse to meet new people and it would always frighten their family. People would assume that she was depressed and lonely, and would always recommend her to see a doctor. However, deep down Phoebe knew that she was doing just fine and in fact, more happy than most people.

Phoebe's father appeared behind her mother with one hand against the wall to keep balance. He has been blind ever since he returned from war ten years ago, the year Phoebe graduated high school at the age of eighteen. He became partially deaf unexpectedly a year later which, both never had an affect on his happiness. He is always bubbly, happy and loved making jokes. His speech is not as well as it used to be but he is still able to form slight sentences.

As her mothers face grew worried, she politely reassured her that she was fine and asked if she could come in for a chat.

"Of course you can sweetie, are you alright?" She asked as she opened the door and gestured her to come in.

Phoebe's mother, Jane opened a box of chocolate chip cookies and placed them on an antique silver plate in the middle of the table.

The house smelt like lavender and freshly cooked pancakes. Phoebe still remembers the smell from the mornings she used to wake up to for school. 

More antique plates with images of flowers and leaves gently around the edge of them were seen hanging on the wall above the table. The family photos were seen around the house a lot. They were of various places Phoebe and her parents had visited before her father was dispatched to war overseas.

There was a window opposite the dinning table, to the left of the kitchen bench. An off white curtain hung gently, blocking the strict sunlight and allowing a slight dim of light the brighten the room.

Both phoebe's parents sat at the dinning room table with her mother staring at her concerned. Jane clutched Phoebe's hand hard to let her know that she was worried.

"Is it a girl or a boy?" Her father mumbled with a big grin. His grin dimmed when he noticed she did not laugh in return to his response.

Phoebe knew that it's now or never. She inhaled slowly and began telling them from the very beginning.