The Way Back

Chapter 1 - Galvanism

The dinner table was set as her father Frank started placing dished down on the wooden table. His daughter Elisa was frowning as she stood on the other side of the room, glaring at the food options. "I already told you I'm vegetarian now."

"Please don't carry on Elisa." Her father muttered, straightening his spine when he heard the doorbell ring. "Can you get that dear?"

Elisa sighed, spinning around and marching towards the front door. Of course, she would have to get the door, she would have to help cook dinner, and would have to help clean it up afterward. Unlike her younger brother Peter that just got to stay in his room all day playing video games.

Elisa swung the door open without checking who it was. She suddenly froze as caring blue eyes smile brightly at her. "Hi, Elisa." He started, letting his eyes slowly fall down her body. "Wow, you look beautiful."

"Uh, thanks Bill." She said awkwardly letting her father's friend Bill Denbrough come inside. She hadn't seen him since she graduated high school and moved off to the big city. It was nice to be home after two years of studying at university, but she hated that her father was determined to celebrate by having everyone around for a party.

She was about to close the door when a few more smiling faces popped up. "Oh my gosh!" Elisa exclaimed. Easily wrapping her arms around her best friend Delila from high school. She hadn't seen her in years and had missed her warm cuddles.

"I missed you." Delila said, dimples pinching her cheeks as she smiled widely.

Next through the door was her friends Harry and Max, "You guys are here too!" Elisa smiled, hugging everyone.

Everyone made their way to the table as Elisa's father and brother took their seats beside their friends. Delila was sitting right next to Elisa and they were both so happy to see each other.

Frank started serving out everyone's food, the last plate to serve was Elisa's and he easily topped it with meat and sausages.

"I won't eat that." Elisa urged, frowning down at the food.

"Eat it, please." Frank stated. Placing it in front of her. "Or at least eat around the meat."

"I can't do that." She complained, "It's all touched the meat. It's disgusting, I feel sick, I'm not going to eat it."

Frank frowned, crossing his arms and glaring at his difficult daughter.

"Mum wouldn't have forced me to eat it." Elisa spat. Knowing that remark would hurt her father more than anything in the world.

"Elisa!" Peter gasped.

Elisa stood from the table, "I'm not eating that." She yelled. Hating that her father wouldn't accept her newfound beliefs.

Peter and Frank stared at Elisa, both frozen in shock that she would mention their deceased mother. "Your father spent ages making it." Bill said.

Elisa ignored them all, turning away from the table and disappearing upstairs into her bedroom.

Frank dropped himself into his seat looking heartbroken, as he tried to put all his feelings aside as he started to eat. Everyone soon joined him, as they all started to chat, trying to ignore that Elisa had yelled at her father.

After a while, Bill excused himself from the table and crept up the stairway as silently as possible. He gently knocked onto Elisa's bedroom door. Pushing it open when he heard her soft voice invite him inside.

Elisa lifted her head from where it was hunched over into her lap. "Oh." She gasped. "Bill. I thought you were my dad."

Bill gave her a sad smile, as he sat next to her on her bed. "I wanted to see if you were okay."