Breaking Spirits

[Silhouette (DELETED 6077)]

Silhouette's hands clapped together as she dusted them in victory of the finished packing. A new day was drawing quickly upon her and soon life would change from the monotony of ill-favored events. After the death of her mother over a year ago, Silhouette had felt a cold hard stone in her intuitive gut. It was known that hindsight is 20/20, but in Silhouette's case... hindsight could have kissed her left *** cheek and called the right one daddy if only she could have focused harder, asked more questions, possibly saved her mother's life. She knew she needed to deal with the guilt that weighed her down... but running from it seemed so much easier. The nagging and pain would ease once they'd made it to Harper Rock. A new country, a new scenery- much more distracting than a rural pit in the United States. Liam, her work-a-holic fiance, was willing to quit and start anew for the sake of his disturbed and apparently cursed betrothed.

"Sil, I just don't think all this is going for the first trip!" She heard her love call from downstairs.

"I knew it wouldn't! I'm leaving some boxes here since I have to be back anyway!" Her voice diminished as she went down the stairs and turned left through the immediate archway. And There was the love of her life. Her hero in every way imaginable. He was occupied with stacking plastic totes against the kitchen wall and as he straightened up, she slid her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his cool, crisp shirt.

The afternoon vanished in a flash, the night dragged into eternity as Silhouette lay in bed, listening to Liam's ragged snores until the 5:30 Alarm. She crawled out of bed, silenced the alarm, and quietly shuffled out of the bedroom.

Many of the must-haves were packed and labled, so away they went into the truck. Silhouette inhaled the excitement of surprising Liam with being able to relax before taking off for their drive.

As the last of the boxes were loaded, Silhouette saw her fiance round the corner, sleepy eyed and mumbling about getting some coffee, which had already been pre-set to brew in time for their short breakfast.

"Baby, just sit down and enjoy some bagels." she said, cooly. She glanced sideways as he looked up. She knew he was about to question her sanity, since they didn't want to arrive late. Slowly, he noticed that the boxes were gone, that when he'd crossed the living room, those boxes were gone too.

"You didn't have to do that! We would have been perfectly on schedule! " Despite his words, his smile reflected the relief of getting some rest.

After the gourmet meal of Bagels and butter, they were off, driving for hours without stopping. There had been a tension at first, like going on an adventure- like discovering treasure or slaying a dragon. They both felt something new and invigorating about starting anew.

More time passed and they passed into Harper Rock, although it didn't feel like it.. the road was filled with nothing but wilderness with the city rising slowly in the distance. Before getting lost in the city, Liam pulled into a nearly abandoned gas station on the edge of town, lights being the only sign that someone might be there- but the gasoline seemed cheap.

Liam leaped out to inspect the pumps and Silhouette stole one last glance as she dashed inside to use their bathroom... assuming it was usable. Although there was an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach similar to the dread she'd felt last year as her mother withered away.