Out Of The Shadows

Chapter 3: Bucket List

After the events that took place exactly one month ago, Silvia spent most of her time outside in her enormous garden, overthinking what Kesha had said. 'One Year', that's all that ran through her mind as she stared at the rose bush before her.

She heard the distinctive foot steps of her father trail up the garden path to greet her at the foot of the bush. "You have to eat, Silvia" he said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder, the warmth of his skin was enough to calm her nerves.

"Father, please, I just need to be able to deal with my own problems" Silvia said, holding a flood of tears from rolling down her cheeks in a Tsunami of depression and sadness. "Do you know the real reason why I'm so upset?"

"If you let me in Silvia, maybe we can discuss it and try and help you" Hugo said, his voice almost cracking with a dormant outburst of tears ready to be unleashed any at any moment. "Please"

"It's because, il never be able to do normal things. Like say, get a job, go to college, have a husband........... Or agave children...." She broke off with a whimper and fell into her Father's arms, who himself was only stood there speechless, awed at how his daughter had broken down and wore away by the idea of being captive by Kesha.

"You mustn't let it get you down, honey" he said, stroking Silvia's hair while her head was nestled into his chest. "For all of our sakes these precious months we have left, they need to be worth while, I want you to go and explore the world, meet new people, do things you'd never though you'd try, and most of all, do as you desire.......the next eleven months are yours for the taking Silvia" he looked down at his helpless child, who had lifted her head to look directly into his eyes.

"Father...........okay, il do this for all of us" she said, making her way back into the Burns' estate, leaving her Father to admire the roses.

Silvia sat on her bed, a notebook open is front of her. She groaned as she scratched her head with her pencil, staring blankly at the page.

"What's wrong, hunny?" Her mother said, hugging the frame of the door as mothers do as they watch their daughter struggling.
"I can't think of things I want to do" Silvia chuckled as her mother came and sat at the edge of her bed. "Help me, haha"

"Il try" Silvia looked up. "How about sky diving?"

"I'm scared of heights"

"Ah, it's not the height you're scared of, it's the fear of falling. Once you know you won't fall, you'll be fine" Her mother said, seemingly jolly.

"Wow, that's deep"

"Well, I had to learn something from taking Philosophy for all those years" they both laughed. This was the first time they have had a laugh of good time since Kesha's visit.

"What about telling that guy you like you like him, hmmm" Her mother smirked, nudging Silvia on the arm.

"How about um.....no, Elizabeth"

"I'm mother to you missy" she nudged Silvia again, playfully.

"Anyway, Daniel would never date me in a million years" Silvia frowned, contemplating an idea that seemed more farfetched than anything in this world.

"I'm sure that's not entirely true, hunny" her mother said, lifting Silvia's chin to make their eyes meet. "You are beautiful, anyway, you have nothing to lose right?"

"Yeah okay, I may as well let him know"

"That's the spirit, hunny" Elizabeth said, smiling at her daughter. "I'm glad that you see things my way for a change"

"You're right, I don't have anything to lose. Anything else I might want to try before the Devil comes and collects me and drags me to hell?" Silvia joked, turning her most anxious fear into a joke.

"You should try and get out more with your friends"

"Really? Is that the best you've got?"

"Okay, that was terrible, even for an old woman of 38 such as myself........... I don't know hunny, but it will come to you, trust me"

"Okay, thanks mum"