Wow, Falls of Life is gorgeous! I especially love the hot tub and wedding area.
Oh, and with Hope and Chronos . . . nooboos. Cute. Love. Love. Love.
Thanks ^^ Glad you enjoy it. The spot itself is beautiful. I'm seriously enjoying playing in Hidden Springs. It's great fun.
*sigh* Sadly, I must report that I have failed. I won't say why since I plan on continuing the story up to the point I failed. Then I will restart and continue. I WILL defeat this challenge!
Chapter 5: A Legacy Left Behind
Hope had her birthday today. She was so excited. Isn’t she a beautiful child? I just can’t get over how beautiful she is. And she’s as beautiful on the inside as she is the outside.
Hope had sat on the ground to play with Chronos when tragedy struck. Ryan had just finished a painting… what would be his last masterpiece- when he felt a horrible pain in his chest. He knew his time had come. When this world’s version of Death came, Ryan smiled and shook his hand. He winked at his wife and daughter and then faded from sight.
Upon the easel he had been working on, the culmination of all his art, his efforts… Ryan Anderson left behind a painting of his daughter when she was a toddler. Even above and beyond the portraits he had done of me and Chronos, this was his crowning achievement. RIP Ryan Anderson. Thank you, for all you’ve done. You’ve enriched so many lives.
Everyone is devastated. We all mourn in our own way. I’ve done my best to console Jess, but she alternates between anger and deep grief.
The only thing that seems to help Jess is playing with my son. His sweet innocence helps her cope and keeps her mind off things. He is too young yet to realize that he will never again see Ryan.
But despite Chronos as a distraction, the grief does catch up to her at odd moments. And poor Hope misses her father something fierce.
Trying to distract her mother, trying to show how brave she is, Hope has made it her duty to check under mother’s bed for monsters. “I wish I could make the sad monster go away too, Mommy,” she told her. Jess just hugged her and they both had a good cry.
Life goes on, and I think Ryan would be proud to see it. Chronos has aged up to a child. My boy is quite handsome, isn’t he?
He and Hope both have such vivid imaginations. They were both given a toy chest when they were born. Chronos likes to pretend to be an astronaut, exploring other planets, while Hope enjoys being a princess. When she was painting, I could hear her whisper, “See daddy? Your little princess can paint now too.”
To honor her husband's memory, Jess takes up painting once again. Though fishing had been her love, painting now consumed her time. It was as if she were possessed.
One night, Hope woke up crying for her father and ran into her mother’s room where she spent the night. That evening, Chronos tried to take her mind off of things by playing a rousing game of tag with her.
It was the kids’ first day of school today. They were a bit nervous but having one another around helped. They are such good kids. As soon as they get home, they settle down to do their homework.
I can’t help but feel a bit guilty… at night, I get to fall asleep in my husband’s arms, while Jess sleeps alone. My son still has his father. Hope does not. I feel even more guilty, feeling as if it is somehow my fault. Jess has not come out and said it, but I’m sure she’s felt it. I could prevent this. But because he is not an Incarnation… it would further destroy the balance. It tears at me, but this is how it must be. I hold tighter to my husband, knowing that one day, I too, will have to say goodbye to him…
*****
