Chapter 238: Silent Melancholy
"What do you mean that she doesn't want to go back, Edwin?" Shane enraged, sitting down after a hard day at work.
It late evening on a Thursday, when Shane retired from office.
A week got passed in the blink of an eye and Shane Ricardo's constant endeavors to bring back Lillian Grey continued its losing streak;
Although his significant helper, Edwin, Lillian's father, tried to play the mediator between the two, all of his plans never worked.
"Son, you know her. She is a stubborn child. Also, she threatens to leave me if I keep questioning," Edwin replied with a vague, weak tone.
"Where is she now?"
"She is out, somewhere to the library, I believe. She only spends her time at home, or library, or at different bars, drinking."
"Edwin, what should I do now? I didn't expect her to react this way. What am I to do if she never returns?"
"That won't happen, Shane. As far as I see, she is running away from her reality because she didn't expect the wished greeting after years would still abandon her."
"Well, she should stop running away. And that goes for Giselle too."
Having uttered these words, Shane displayed a sigh of disappointment.
"What can we do, son?"
"Edwin, you are the only one who can help me here with Lillian!" Shane begged.
Edwin sighed as well to signal his disagreement.
"However, son, I can't do everything on my own. She is not a kid where I can at least order her to do so. Lilly will leave this place and run away somewhere else, which could be more worrisome for you if that happens."
"That is true, and I cannot even imagine such an event to befall."
"Well, honestly, I wonder why Giselle would run away from Lillian in the very first place."
Edwin's words struck Shane, triggering him to think of an absurd idea that he even thought it would be such a risk to operate. However, the outcome of this idea can somehow solve the mystery between the two and bring to an end.
Having thought about it while staying alive on the call, Shane resolved. He intends to follow his guts all the way along to see to an end.
"Edwin, thank you for helping me until now. I figured out something, and I will let you know if it happens. Just take care of Lillian for me, okay?"
"I sure will."
"I know this might be the craziest thing, but I am planning to send Giselle to your place. However, I have to talk to her first. She's also avoiding my calls all this time, and thank god, her author, Jayce, is taking a break. So, if everything goes well, Giselle will be at your place this weekend."
Edwin didn't know how to respond to this plan of Shane's, but it does sound worth trying. After all, the conflict is between Giselle and Lillian. It is only fair for the two to sit down and resolve it together instead of choosing to run away.
"Edwin?"
"Yes, son. I'm here."
"What do you think?"
"I think it is a good idea that if we make Giselle and Lillian meet in private, but I hardly think that Giselle could agree to it."
"That obstacle is mine to resolve."
"But-"
"Think about it, Edwin. Lillian cannot run away from Giselle. And if Giselle pays a visit directly, then it might help those two somehow. Don't ask me how? But I am sure that it will work out if Giselle, herself, goes to Lillian."
"I agree, son. However, it is very critical. I fear the outcome of this. It shouldn't bring a disaster to both."
"It won't because you are there. That's where you get to play your role as Lilly's father and draw the line so that the two won't kill themselves."
Edwin thought about it and then agreed.
He also advised about not to force Giselle if she isn't willing to do this. It is not a good thing to force someone to love or like or even help. If Giselle agrees, then she can do it, and If not, then we should think of other ways to bring back Lillian.
Shane obeyed, and their call ended that night with hope.
****
Friday morning, Lia woke up early like she did these last four days. She came out of the room to greet her mother and found the looming sadness lasting to stick with her mother.
Lia's thrill to greet depresses, and she began to get ready for school.
All these past six days, Lia noticed the strange silence her mother carried. At first, little Lia tried to cheer her up by playing tricks, dancing, singing, and even acting. However, no matter what she did, this mysterious stifle never disappeared. Lia compares it to the corresponding expression, which Lia witnessed her mother reveal ever since her toddler days. Even as a baby, Lia would sometimes catch Giselle exhibit such emotion as if she is struggling within. Whenever it does, Lia would cease her tantrums and behave well. Not because her mother's mood would result in a harsh response, but little Lia thought that she still didn't want to trouble her mother and add to her grieving. Lia's familiarity with her mother's hidden struggle is never known to Giselle's knowledge. It is something that the child figured out on its own and blamed it upon adulthood.
Lia got ready for school and waited for her mother. As she did, her eyes would often catch Giselle's forlorn gaze. She made sure to follow and behave, not to irritate or become a concern for her mother.
The two reached the school, and to their pleasant surprise, Mrs. Beth Hillers was there to receive them.
"Good morning, Lia, and Giselle-" Mrs. Hillers greeted and stunned to find Giselle still holding onto her gloom, which she displayed back when Mrs. Hillers returned Lia home.
Lia greeted Mrs. Hillers back with a smile.
Silence followed, and not fancy to entertain it, Mrs. Hillers said her farewell and moved away. However, before parting, she commented on Giselle that left the mother in surprise.
"Take it easy, Giselle. You look like life just kicked you in the guts. Don't make it hard for the young one, alright!"
Her words made Giselle realize the way she behaved and Lia's sudden compliance.
"Was I being weird?" Giselle asked.
Meaning that it is to aim at the little one, Lia resorted to silence.
She did not look at her mother, playing deaf- she remained like a statue.
When Giselle insisted on an answer, Lia agreed to face a changed demeanor in her mother's life.
"Mother, I don't know what it is, but I wish you would stop being sad. You wish that I smile and be happy, can't I expect the same from you?" Lia reasoned.
Feeling that she expressed too much, Lia hushed her actions.
"I'm sorry, mother. I was just- it's alright. Don't worry, I'll behave, and I'll leave now."
Lia hurried, and to her aid, Andy, Lia's friend from her class, just arrived.
Lia called, greeted, and then the two walked together to their class.
Giselle, having found herself in bewilderment, saw her daughter leaving and then a few seconds later, realized her surroundings. She walked back home and immediately landed on her couch. Hands above her head, she pondered in the morning.
All these six days, Giselle used to find herself in a position where her mind reverts to the time she met Lillian Grey. No matter what she did, her mind went back to play the same scene again and again. And this caused Giselle's disheartened disposition. Silently it had been staying inside at the back of her mind and eating her spirits every day.
The reason she left the country was because of a threat.
A warning to her life and her sanity if she chose to stay by Lillian's side. Right now, having returned after years, the threat still haunts Giselle.
As if to put an end to her misery, a call came in to disturb Giselle's silence melancholy.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ljack_ace
ljack_ace Please enjoy reading!
Thank you for your love. I am not at the worst state, which is a rare case in regards to me catching the flu. I am feeling better where I can sit and write and not dwell on the bed all day!!!
Alright, let's keep this train hooting!!!
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