《The Invisible String》 Prologue - The Invisible String If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. connections. ¡°I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.¡± Chapter 1 - The Writer ¡°Hey Mom! I¡¯m turning 25 today. It has also been 25 years since you left for a better place. Don¡¯t worry, Dad¡¯s doing fine. I hope you loved your favourite strawberry cake! Dad and I did our best to replicate your treasured masterpiece. It¡¯s sweet, savoury, fun-loving and full of love like you.¡± I really miss you, Mom. I really ... No. I need to get a hold of myself. I have to. Smile. That¡¯s it. ... I can¡¯t. ¡°Sorry Mom, 25 years have passed but...I still wish you were right here with us. Today, I¡¯m reminded of the Invisible String you always told Dad about. It connects us in places we cannot see or feel. It¡¯s a string that death cannot separate. I decided to name her Syndesi. I want Syndesi to be able to live a life of her own, free from troubles of the world...¡± . .Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! . ¡°Phew! It always feels great to be able to just let it out. The words that I can¡¯t say, my pen will do it for me.¡± He spun his fountain pen around his thumb. Paper smudged with ink. Laying gracefully in the centre of his wooden desk. A plate laid quietly to the right of his journal. A half-eaten chocolate cake and a burnt candle. His focus redirected to his right hand under the lamp. The battle scars of ink carved into his ring finger after every writing. He leaned back on his chair. Fingers interlaced with his hands behind his head. He looked at the ceiling with eyes of a little boy. Reminiscent of his childhood memories. His words. A tinge of sorrow and solemn. ¡°I know it reached her. Even if she¡¯s not here. She always listens to what I have to say. Always.¡± Fully extending his arms, he felt the pull of his shoulder blades as his hands drew a heart shape. ¡°1:45am huh? Guess I¡¯m missing the 2 o¡¯clock mark today.¡± As he reached out his hand to switch off the lamp, he saw the white plate from the corner of his eye. He held the plate up and smiled. Paused for a moment to breathe in the sweet fragrance as it seeped into his soul. The strike of the analog clock snapped him back into reality and he placed the cake in the mini fridge. He switched off the lights and slammed on the bed like a panda. A ray of light from the living room crept into the darkness through the gap beneath the door. ¡°Dad¡¯s awake too, huh? Guess we aren¡¯t that different after all.¡± Normally, he would have coerced his Dad to sleep early. But not today. Today was special. The chocolate-flavoured incense soothed his heart. He closed his heavy eyelids and fell asleep to the lullaby of the ticking clock. Chapter 2 - The White Horizon This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Chapter 3 - Lakes of Sorrow Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Strangely Chapter 4 - Blackout Tears surged forth like a waterfall suppressed for far too long. She doesn¡¯t understand why she was crying. This was someone else¡¯s pain but it felt like her own. Sorrow. Pain. Regret. No words were said. Just the outpouring of sadness and distress. But she couldn¡¯t cry before. So how could she cry now? It was strange. Really strange. She was still but an incorporeal being; one without flesh or bones. Yet, tears morphed into existence and flowed out of her. There was only one explanation: The Black Writings. Frozen in time, the gears of the rusty clock rotated again. New black writings emerged. A second time. Like the writings were trying to create something out of nothing. This time, it felt different. It felt like...hope.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Like a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly, creation transfigured into something much more beautiful. Metamorphosis. The white environment and the black writings transformed magically into a magnificent display of horses. Galloping across the grassy plains. The sun released all of its brilliance. Light filled to the brim, leaving not a single spot untouched. Yet the exploding light was in no way painful for the eyes. The warmth caressed the land like a toddler sleeping soundly in its cradle. Comfort for the soul. She was savouring every moment. Candy after the rain. Solace. Sweet. Bliss. But she didn¡¯t realise what was happening in the backdrop. Twice now, the black writings stopped appearing. Darkness came like a thief at the break of dawn. Before she could catch her breath, the thief¡¯s shadow loomed over the light blue sky and enveloped the rest of the earth. BAM!!! It was like a meteor crashed and flattened the planet in its impact. Except, there was no meteor. Only sound. The deafening thunderous clap shook the ground beneath her. Vibration to the core of her skeleton. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t have the senses, nor a skeleton to feel it. Yet she felt drowsy. Closed her eyes if she had them and fell into a coma. Fading into the pitch-black background. Left unconscious in the abyss. The Voice Between The Lines This is a story of connections. But a story isn¡¯t always that straightforward. Every story has its characters, readers and narrator. Hello readers, I¡¯m your narrator. And you¡¯ll be stuck with me for the rest of the chapters. Maybe. Who knows? We¡¯ll see. After all, I have no power. Not in the form you would imagine. I cannot change the story. That¡¯s not my role to play. I simply watch and narrate from the sidelines. You may also know me as the Fourth Wall. An imaginary wall that separates you from the people inside these stories. Hovering between reality and the story world, I am the bridge between dimensions. My sole purpose: to bring you and the characters closer together. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. And you are the reader. That¡¯s right. You have the power. Okay, not exactly. But by forming connections with Syndesi you can cha___ the story. I was cre____ by the ___e ______ble __r__g. Seeing how there¡¯s dis_ort__n, looks l_ke m_ time is up. That¡¯s al_ I¡®m abl_ to t___ you n_w. Syn____ needs yo_r help to fac_ her str__ggles. Please h__lp her! D_ what y_u do b_st. Rea_. Befo_e she tu_ns her f__e aga_ns_ the w_rld. Chapter 5 - Dawn of Syndesi ¡°Wake up Sis! Wake Up! Have you forgotten that today¡¯s your birthday!¡± ¡°Argh, Agape, let me sleep a little longer. I had a bad dream last night.¡± ¡°Noooooo, we have so much to do today! Come on Sis! Wake up!¡± Agape tried shaking but it was no use. She repeated the words like a broken recorder to elicit some kind of response. ¡°Wake up Sis! Wake up!¡± ¡°Arghh, alright! 5 mins.¡± Agape remained silent before sniffing her nose. Thrice. This was a sign. Agape was about to cry and if she cried, even the Monkey King couldn¡¯t rebel.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Mhmmm!¡± Agape grinned. A disaster avoided. One that you wouldn¡¯t expect from a 5-year-old girl, no taller than an acoustic guitar. Her cinnamon-coloured hair and light brown eyes reflected maturity despite her age. And this makes her even cuter. You¡¯ll know what I mean. But first, back to the story. . . . *beep* Hello, is this working? Nevermind let¡¯s just give it a go! Hellooo, I am Syndesi! And I¡¯m turning 7 today!! I love to connect with new people and make many many friends. Primary school has just started and things are so fun and exciting with my new deskmate, Ruth. For some strange reason, I feel a strong connection to food. I don¡¯t really know how to describe it but it just makes me feel at ease. Probably explains why I LOVE BAKING. ¡°Hey Syndesi! Hurry up! Mom¡¯s waiting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m almost done recording Agape, don¡¯t rush me!¡± That¡¯s my cue. Guess I gotta go and bake some birthday cookies with Mom and Sis. See you! *beep* Chapter 6 - Budding Cookies Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ordinary eyes.enchanting Aww, just give that kitty some food. butter and sugar crumbs trapped in the strands of her light brown hair. She looked into Agape¡¯s eyes and smiled. Chapter 7 - The Secret Recipe *knocks* ¡°Syndesi? Can Mommy come in?¡± She opened the door slightly, careful not to make any creak. She peeked through the gap. A poor little girl crawled up vulnerably in her bed like a starved cat with no food to eat. The dim light sieved through the translucent curtains. A streak of light shone across the bed. *distant whimpering* She entered the room, closed the door softly and sat beside her. Gently stroking her back. *muffled crying* Syndesi couldn¡¯t bear to look at her. A wave of guilt hit her when she thought of Agape. She covered her face with her blanket and hugged her bolster. Every breath through her flared nostrils could be heard clearly in the dark. ¡°Sorry Mommy, I..., I was so frustrated and annoyed. I always feel so inferior. I don¡¯t understand. Isn¡¯t experience and skill more important than love? I don¡¯t get it. I feel so confused and I..., I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Mom listened and stroke her back. She paused and waited until Syndesi had nothing more to say. Allowing the silence beneath the stifled crying to linger for a while. ¡°Syndesi. When we bake...we bake with love. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡± She waited again. Giving her time and space. That was what Syndesi needed.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Ding!¡± The oven rang like it desperately wanted attention for its completion. The faint scent of freshly baked cookies permeated the room. ¡°Mommy...please don¡¯t go.¡± Syndesi¡¯s tiny hand grabbed Mom¡¯s apron. ¡°Mommy¡¯s right here. Mommy¡¯s not going anywhere.¡± Soon, the crying died down. Syndesi reluctantly removed the blanket. Exposing herself to the dim light, she sat up. Her voice was hoarse and barely audible. ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡°Yes Syndesi.¡± ¡°Can you tell me...¡± Syndesi paused as waves of inadequacy hit her again. But the gentle stroke down her spine reminded her. She was not alone. ¡°Can you tell me how I can bake with love too?¡± Mom placed her palm on her heart. ¡°This. This is my secret recipe.¡± ¡°Your secret recipe?¡± ¡°Yes. When you bake for the people you love, when you bake with your heart and soul, when you bake with love, you¡¯ll be able to bake the best cookie you can bake. Because the cookie is made not for me, but for you. When I bake, I bake for you. I bake for Agape. And I bake for your father. Because each one of you means the world to me.¡± Syndesi placed her palm on her heart. ¡°Mommy, I think I know what you mean now. Thank you. And I love you very very very much too.¡± ¡°I know it full well, Syndesi. Come and give Mommy a real big hug, will you?¡± ¡°Mommy!¡± Syndesi pounced into her open arms and hugged her so tight like she was hanging on for her dear life. ¡°I love you Mommy! I LOVE YOU SO SO MUCH!!¡± Mom laughed and stroked her back again. ¡°Alright now. If you hug me any tighter, Mommy will have trouble breathing.¡± Syndesi laughed too. ¡°No, I won¡¯t let you go.¡± Syndesi tightened her grip, refusing to release her hostage. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll have to use this.¡± Mom used her ten feathery fingers and tickled Syndesi at her waist. Syndesi tried to defend herself with her hands. But she had too many open spots. ¡°haha. Mom, stop. haha. I give up. haha. I surrender.¡± Syndesi calmed herself and went on the offense. ¡°Now, it¡¯s my turn.¡± ¡°If you can get me.¡± As they ran in circles around the room, exploiting the bed as a strategic obstacle, Syndesi finally understood why her Mom¡¯s cookies always taste better than hers. Chapter 8 - Unworldly Wish ¡°DADDY!!¡± ¡°Hello Sweetheart, Daddy is back!!¡± Agape ran into Dad¡¯s open arms as he lifted her up in the air. He made a 360-degree turn before gently putting his beloved princess down. ¡°Was baking fun? Have you been a good girl?¡± Agape nodded her head earnestly. ¡°Where is Mommy and Syndesi?¡± ¡°Mommy went to talk to Sis.¡± Agape looked over to Syndesi¡¯s bedroom and pointed in that direction with her finger. ¡°Oh, something happened?¡± Agape thought for a second but gave up in the next. She shook her head and urged Dad to call Mom. ¡°Dad! Dad! Call Mom fast! I want eat cookies.¡± ¡°Very well, my Royal Highness.¡± With every step Dad took, the jovial screams got louder and louder. He opened the door but what came next was a pillow smacked right in the centre of his face. The room came to an awful silence as Syndesi and Mom realised where the pillow went. The pillow dropped to the floor with a thud. Dad bent down and took the pillow. Poker-faced. ¡°So you two were playing pillow fights without me, eh? Very well, take this!¡± Dad threw the pillow to Syndesi like a baseball pitcher. But it was no more than a mere pass. A full-grown man with the strength of a child. The three stared blankly at one another. Syndesi and Mom broke the silence first with laughter.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°So now both of you are teaming up against me, eh? Very well, stay there! I¡®m going to catch you both!¡± Dad replayed history as he chased them around the bed like cat and mouse. After an indefinite amount of time, Dad called for a truce. But it was really more of a white flag. He was a pretty slow cat. ¡°Alright. Alright. That¡¯s enough for today. Both of you go clean up and wear some nice clothing. We are going to Swensens tonight. Syndesi, help Agape clean up too.¡± Agape heard her name and waddled into the room. ¡°Swam-cent? What¡¯s Swam-cent Daddy?¡± ¡°Ice-cream. Sweetheart.¡± ¡°Ice-cream? YAY ICE-CREAM! I like ice-cream! YAY SWAM-CENT!¡± ¡°Okay girls, who wants a shower from Mommy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m old enough to bathe myself, Mommy. I¡®m 7 already!¡± ¡°Haha, okay, take your sister and go clean up first. Mommy needs to talk to Daddy.¡± ¡°Mommy, I want eat cookies.¡± ¡°Be a good girl and bathe first. Once you are out, you can have all the cookies and ice-cream you want.¡± ¡°Okay! YAY COOKIES AND SWAM-CENT!¡± Mom whispered to Dad¡¯s ear after the kids left. ¡°Honey, isn¡¯t that restaurant a little expensive? Our budget has been quite tight these few months.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Dear. We can save more and spend less. I¡¯m sure things will work out fine. I want to give you and the children a good meal too! I know you miss the ice-cream there.¡± ¡°Alright, Dear. Thank you. You know me the best.¡± ### ¡°Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Syndesi! Happy birthday to you!¡± ¡°Make a wish!¡± ¡°I wish...we can stay together like this forever.¡± Syndesi wished with her eyes closed. *blows the candle* *claps* ¡°Happy birthday sweetheart. This is your birthday present from Mom and I.¡± ¡°Professional Baking by Wayne Gisslen?!! How did you get this book? It was so popular, 500¡¯000 limited copies were sold out in a day!¡± ¡°Never underestimate a journalist¡¯s connections.¡± Dad grinned. ¡°I have something for you too, Sis. It¡¯s a drawing of you, Mommy and I baking this morning. I didn¡¯t have much time but I managed to finish it before we went out.¡± The drawing was incomplete and messy but it warmed Syndesi¡¯s heart like sunrise in a dark sky. ¡°This must be the love Mom was referring to.¡± Syndesi thought. ¡°Awww thank you so much Mom, Dad and Agape! I love you all so so much!!¡± I really hope we can be together like this for as long as possible. But she knew not yet the lesson she had to learn. Chapter 9 - Arduous Trek ¡°I¡¯m leaving for school Mom!¡± Syndesi hurriedly put on her socks and shoes. ¡°Have you checked that you have brought everything? Wallet, money, textbooks, water bottle, jacket?¡± ¡°Yes Mom, I prepared them last night. I¡¯ll be off then.¡± ¡°How about the cookies?¡± ¡°Oh my, I totally forgot about it!¡± ¡°You left it in the kitchen. Here you go! It would be a pity if you forgot to bring the cookies to school after you woke up early to bake them.¡± ¡°Thanks for the reminder Mom! I gotta catch the bus or I¡¯ll be late. Love you.¡± ¡°Love you too. Byeeee.¡± (She¡¯s already old enough to go to school by herself. Oh how she has grown. But to me, she will always be my precious Syndesi...) . . .If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Syndesi sprinted for the bus stop as she saw the bus turning the corner from 100m away. She dashed with all her might, struggling to catch her breath as she panted heavily. But she was almost there. It¡¯s right in front of her. Just 10m away from the goal. ¡°I can make it in time!¡± Syndesi thought. Mustering every last ounce of her strength, she reached the finish line. ¡°I did it!¡± But she forgot to flag for the bus as she was running and the bus zoomed past the bus stop. Petrified. She was completely flabbergasted. It took her 2 whole seconds before she processed what had transpired. She waited for the next bus that took an eternity to arrive. Stood in a crowded bus. Alighted and boarded the train. Ran up an uphill slope leading to school and finally managed to make a clutch comeback at the school main gate. A 30min delay in travelling time but she was just in time. ¡°Phew!¡± Syndesi breathed a sigh of relief like a long day had ended. With such talent, there was no doubt she could become a marathon runner. No, even an Olympic athlete wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. I mean...she was only 7 years old. There was only one obstacle left between her and success: Stairs. After declaring victory over the enemy, the sore legs were hanging by a thread, ready to throw in the towel anytime. But they pressed on with sheer determination and willpower till she was in front of Class 1-A. She couldn¡¯t wait to share the cookies with her classmates. Taking deep breaths, she regained her vitality and entered the room. Syndesi may have opened the door to hope but for another, it was the gates of hell. What you¡®re about to see was never meant to be in the original story. But this is crucial. Without first understanding this, you¡¯ll not be in the position to help Syndesi. Follow me as we take a step into a living hell. Chapter 10 - Pandemonium鈥檚 Prelude These doors or gates were by no means a physical one. In a universe Syndesi knew nothing about, Eve and Ethan were looking forward to their firstborn. ¡°If only Eve could see Levi...¡± . . . I could remember every scene so clearly like it was yesterday. It was...hell. ¡°You are doing a great job Eve! Hang in there! I am here for you!¡± She was grasping my arm so tight I could feel her fingernails piercing through my skin. But how could this pain mean anything when I saw her grit her teeth as she endured the agony. I couldn¡¯t do anything but to be right beside her. I wanted to encourage her but momentary silence was what she needed the most.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! It was a long and mentally-draining journey of 8+ months for our child, her and I. But the time had finally come. I was anxious and excited to see the fruits of our labour. Before I knew, we arrived at the hospital. She could no longer hold in the pain. I couldn¡¯t fathom the torture she was going through as I watched her scream and shriek in response to the alternating waves of intense contractions. It was the first time I had ever seen such a strong-willed woman like her violently expressing the pain she was going through. We reached the hospital at 10am and it was an agonising 8 hours wait after the established labour. I didn¡¯t want to leave her alone for a second but I had to get her some food to eat to last through the day. I got the midwife to look after her and rushed to get some fruits and an isotonic drink for lunch. At 6pm, the gates of the abyss started to open. It was the sound of Pandemonium ringing in my ear. Chapter 11 - Despair鈥檚 Anthem The time for labour had come. But I didn¡¯t follow her into the delivery room. I didn¡¯t want to risk putting her in danger. Eve had a fragile physique since she was young. Suffering from gluten intolerance and anemia her whole life, her immune system had been compromised and weakened for years prior to discovering the symptoms. The doctor also wouldn¡¯t let me in. Not with her precarious condition. I waited outside. I tried sitting down, interlaced my fingers like I was praying. But I couldn¡¯t stay still. It was cold as winter but I was burning inside. I paced around anxiously. Praying that Eve would be alright. I reassured myself that things would turn out fine. I prayed and prayed and prayed... 2.5 hours passed. I gazed at the time on my phone: ¡°2030¡±. With every passing minute, I was more and more worried. The accumulated sweat on my forehead could form a river. I prayed for God to watch over Eve. Then a doctor and several nurses with blue surgical clothing rushed to the scene with medical equipment completely foreign to me.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Doctor, what¡¯s happening? Is she okay?!¡± I wanted to barge into the room but the nurse stopped me. ¡°Sir, please stay back. We need to attend to your wife immediately.¡± And they vanished into the delivery room. I was terrified. ¡°Please God! Please keep Eve safe! I will do anything! Please! Please!¡± My entire body was trembling. 10mins later, the same doctor and nurses bolted out of the room with a tiny baby attached with tubes all over his body in an enclosed casing. Before questions could leave my mouth, the nurse answered them. ¡°Sir, we have to send your newborn to the NICU right now. We have no time to waste. I¡¯ll explain to you along the way.¡± I quickly followed them and learnt that both Levi and Eve were in dangerous situations. Levi¡¯s lungs was damaged during childbirth. And Eve was grappling with low oxygen levels due to excessive blood loss. Her anemia only adds to the worrying circumstances. Both of them were fighting for their every breath. After seeing Levi to the NICU, I entrusted him to the doctor and ran back to the delivery room like a madman. But the harbinger of death was still at sight. And he was not going to leave until he¡¯s reaped his harvest. Chapter 12 - Death鈥檚 Coda I ran back and forth between the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the delivery room. They meant the world to me. They were the reason I live. "Please God! Please! Save them! I can''t do anything by myself! Please God, I beg you..." I called Eve''s and my parents. They arrived at the hospital shortly and bought dinner for me. But I couldn''t eat. I didn''t have the appetite. 3+ hours passed. Thankfully, Levi''s condition had stabilised at last. But Eve was still held in the delivery room. Another hour passed. I checked the time on my phone, "0045". Finally the doors to the delivery room opened. A familiar scene replayed itself as a team of doctors and nurses pushed Eve out on a bed to an operating room. This time I couldn''t hear what the nurse said. Her voice drowned out by my tears. I peered at Eve¡¯s pale face as tears blurred my vision. Unconscious. Breathing heavily through the mask. They disappeared into the operating theater as the green sign flashed red. I cried hopelessly with no one to hold but myself. I stared at my phone with eyes like a dead fish as I studied the Bible. . . . At last, the sign turned green and the doors opened as a doctor walked out. ¡°Hello, Mr Ethan. I am one of the doctors. There was excessive blood loss during the delivery earlier and we had done multiple blood transfusions. Currently, she has critically low blood oxygen levels. An operation is plausible but she might not have enough oxygen to last through it..¡± I couldn¡¯t help but tear up. I felt like weeping but I had to stay strong. This could be the last time I could see her. "Would you like to go and see her?" ¡°Yes please." I walked into the ward but stopped as I saw her from behind the door. She was just lying there. Motionless. Eyes closed. I breathed deeply and exhaled. My lungs devoid of air.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The sound of the machine was still beeping but I knew she was dying... I took my seat and held her hands. It was cold like ice. I rubbed my hands, hoping I could transfer some of my warmth. But all I felt was the heat escaping from the gaps between our fingers. I held back my tears and forced a smile as I whispered into her ear... "Eve, Eve, remember we were talking about our son Levi a few months ago? Look at him now. He is healthy and in good hands. Remember the recipe book we created? I will be sure to cook lots of good food for him.¡± Her index finger twitched and wrinkles formed around her eyelids. But her eyes refused to open like prison bars. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see him! Our son, Levi!¡± Every nerve of her facial muscles twisted the iron bars apart. To catch a glimpse of the outside. The light from the phone screen deepened the blue in her eyes. I placed her finger on the picture. ¡°Levi. My dear Levi.¡± The last embers of her soul was fading. She wanted to tell me something. My ear kissed the transparent breathing mask. ¡°I¡¯m listening Eve.¡± She poured every last bit of oxygen to reignite her dying flame. Her words scorched my heart. Burnt marks of death and rebirth inscribed in my soul. I will never forget her last words. ¡°Ethan, tell our son I love him. Sorry I can¡¯t be with you. To see him grow. Sorry for breaking our promise.¡± I held her hand close to my heart as I heard her dying voice. I fought so hard to keep my tears at bay. But droplets crawled their way into my eyes. ¡°Don''t worry Eve, I''ll take care of him. I''ll see to it that he grows up into a fine young man.¡± ¡°I love you, Eve." I kissed Eve on her forehead. And put the bright orange flame to sleep with bedtime stories. Stories of Levi¡®s future. Traces of colour faded into wisps of grey smoke. Gone with the wind. As the candle found rest in an eternal slumber. *beeeeeeepppp* . . . "The other half is for you, Eve." "Dad! Dad? Hey Dad!" "Yes Levi?" "Are you reading that again?" "I was just thinking of your mother." *silence ensued* "Don''t worry Dad. She''s left us for a better place first. And when our time comes, we will reunite in heaven." "Yup! You¡¯re right. Alright! What do you wanna have for dinner? Would you like to try my ...?" "Please tell me it''s not another one of your Chicken Chop Recipes." "You got it right!" Levi''s Dad gently placed the recipe book down beside a half-eaten strawberry cake on the table. And these words were written on the second page of the book: In memory of Eve who gives us strength to continue living. ### Through the death of one came the life of another. Ethan and Levi never lost anyone. Eve had always been living in their hearts. What you had seen was not a story of grief but a story of hope. A story Syndesi was not ready to accept. Chapter 13 - The Owl Knows I wish I have more time to explain but luck ain¡¯t on our side. The story has to continue but I beg you to read on. The time will come when Syndesi needs our help. And when it comes, we have to be ready. If not... ### Syndesi opened the door to Class 1-A. It was the entrance to hope. Probably. I mean, I don¡¯t see how much worse this could be after returning from hell. ¡°Hey Syndesi!¡± ¡°Hello Syndesi!¡± ¡°Morning Syndesi!¡± ¡°Woah Syndesi, you are normally the first to reach school. What happened?¡± ¡°I had a long day yesterday haha, I guess I overslept a tad bit. Just a bit haha.¡± Syndesi smiled sheepishly while stroking the back of her neck. What she said was true. Or should I say, partially true. She had a long day yesterday. No qualms about that. But overslept? You¡¯ve got to do better, Syndesi. Lying ain¡¯t your forte. Syndesi chuckled awkwardly and scurried anxiously to her desk in small quick steps. Avoiding all other questions related to her punctuality, she sat down with the face of a fully ripened tomato. And she actually forgot to greet her deskmate. A daily practice she never failed to do for the past month in school. This caught the eyes of her deskmate which were magnified by her wise glasses, big and round like an owl.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Syndesi nervously opened her bag like a thief ensuring her stolen goods were safe and sound. She took out a box of cookies from within. She did all this secretly under her desk. Timidly nervous to be spotted by others. Well, a thief would have at least scanned her surroundings to realise the constricted pupils of the owl staring down at her. Alas, I guess her age explains her naivety. ¡°Please be okay!¡± Syndesi spoke in a low and indistinct voice. But this was picked up by the sharp ears of the owl beside her. A sticky note, slightly crumbled, laid restless on the box of cookies. On it, it was written: ¡°To be shared with everyone in class.¡± Syndesi carefully opened the lid and bore witness to the change in state of the cookies. The neatly organised domino cookies lost their balance and crushed one another into a disorderly mess. Fear. Dismay. Dread. Her eyes and mouth followed the same pattern. Wide open before they drooped southwards like a wilted flower. Her spirit lost vigour like the sinking stem. And yet, the poor Hachik¨­ dog was still subjected to the scrutiny of the sage eyes beside her. Syndesi scrambled to close the lid but it took her buttery paws multiple times. She shoved the box of cookies inside her bag. Took out her pale yellow jacket and clothed herself with it. Wrapping her face with her arms, she laid on the table. Hoping the cotton fur of her jacket could provide some sort of comfort for her carelessness. 30 seconds later... ¡°Ruth, can you please help me tell Ms Sophia that I need to use the toilet urgently? It¡¯s very, very, very urgent.¡± Ruth remained speechless. She simply expressed her consent with a light nod. Like a mouse chased by a cat, Syndesi scampered out of class. She took the shortest route possible via the back door to everyone¡¯s surprise. ¡°Toilet.¡± Ruth¡¯s one-word explanation shut the noise like an orchestra conductor. A particularly beautiful one. The descent of an angelic voice mesmerised the hearts of all who heard. The commoners were hypnotised as if a deaf person could finally taste music. The peasants would have begged for the notorious winter aura to freeze them to death if Ruth could just utter one more word. In that heavenly tone. Meanwhile, Ruth simply didn¡¯t care about what people thought about her. And she was never one to help someone. But seeing how Syndesi was tearing up, the Ice Princess made an exception. A rather questionable one. Chapter 14 - A Revolutionary Venture ¡°5mins before Ms Sophia arrives. That¡¯s plenty.¡± Ruth grabbed Syndesi¡¯s handphone from the front compartment of her bag discretely. ¡°A 4-digit password? Simple.¡± Ruth recalled the pattern Syndesi¡¯s thumb followed to unlock her phone. Down, Up, Down, Up. (0202 on the number pad) Ruth correlated it to Syndesi¡¯s birthday just a few days ago and it was an identical match. As expected of the most intelligent person in class. After unlocking her phone, she swiftly scrolled through the apps and entered the messaging app. Searched for the class group chat and Bingo! She instantaneously drafted a message that sounded like an exact copy of Syndesi. No one would have imagined a quiet and introverted mouse like Ruth could ever sound like that. Or should I say, type like that. heyyy everyone!! I brought a box of cookies to share with everyone today!! I rushed to heat them up at 6am in the morning and dashed to school. But...because of that, the cookies were all crumbled and shattered. They are no longer in one piece but if you still like to try some, look for me at my desk during recess and ill be more than happy to give you some!! im sorry that im too embarrassed to say this in person and have to type this out. Remember to look for me if you want some okay! Alright, let¡¯s quickly keep our phones before Ms Sophia comes in! Sent! ¡°Ding!¡± Everyone received a notification and checked their phones right before Ms Sophia came in. At that point in time, everyone understood why Syndesi ran out of the back door earlier...for the wrong reason. Ruth immediately deleted the evidence from Syndesi¡¯s phone and turned off her notifications for the day. Her secret mission was almost complete. All she had to do now was return the phone and close the zip. But before she had the chance, Syndesi came back into class via the back door.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. There were only two options now. Ruth could place the phone back in this short time frame and risk getting caught by Syndesi or wait for a better timing. ¡°It¡¯s now or never!¡± But before Ruth could even react, Syndesi was already back at her seat. ¡°Damn that cheetah!¡± Ruth thought to herself. ¡°Phew!! I made it back in time! Otherwise Ms Sophia would have ripped me into pieces. Thank you for looking after my belongings Ruth!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome¡± was what Ruth said to buy herself some time. In her mind, she was analysing all the possible choices available to her. It was fortunate that Syndesi had yet to discover her missing phone and half-opened bag. ¡°All I need is a distraction!¡± Ruth deliberately dropped her eraser and propelled it with just enough strength so it would roll to Syndesi¡¯s 4 o''clock position. It was just barely out of her reach and she would have to stand up, get out of her chair to retrieve it. That would be Ruth¡¯s opportunity. She tapped on Syndesi¡¯s left shoulder and whispered. ¡°Sorry Syndesi, I accidentally dropped my eraser to your right. Could you please help me pick it up?¡± Syndesi stared at Ruth dumfounded. ¡°Um, could you help me pick it up?¡± ¡°Yup! I¡®m sorry. I am just so glad and shocked that you asked me for help that I didn¡¯t know what to say.¡± Ruth pondered. ¡°Was this how I look like to others? Hmmm...not that it matters.¡± Knowing Syndesi¡¯s helpful demeanour, there was no way she wouldn¡¯t help a classmate in need. In this short window of opportunity, Ruth briskly slid the phone back to its original position and closed the zip. Perfect execution. Nothing more needs to be said. With that, all she had to do was wait till recess and watch the show. ¡°Here you go Ruth. Your eraser.¡± Ruth was once again reminded of why she took so much effort to help Syndesi. Her authentic, genuine and sincere smile with her mildly puffy eyes. It was oddly similiar to Buddy. And for the first time in school, the wise owl expressed her gratitude... ¡°Thank you Syndesi.¡± "And happy belated birthday.¡± But Ruth would never have imagined that this interaction would change her life. Chapter 15 - Inevitable Checkmate If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The time for Ruth¡¯s efforts to be paid in full. Chapter 16 - Ethereal Bliss Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. All except one. Chapter 17 - Beacon of Friendship ¡°I knew you would be here! Up on the rooftop. It makes you feel close to the sky, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Abigail reached out her right hand and aligned it with the sun. She squinted at the bright light in the blue sky. ¡°Leave me alone, Abigail.¡± ¡°No can do, R-O-S-E-T-T-A.¡± ¡°I am not in the mood to joke around, okay? Just go away.¡± Rosetta was sitting in the fetal position under the shade of the rooftop. Knees tucked to her chest as she submissively wrapped her arms around her. It was self-comfort. She held a jar of chocolate cookies close to her chest, afraid of letting go as she hid away in the shadows. Abigail kept silent. She simply sat beside her, adopting a similar posture. One in shadow. Another in light. Abigail gently took the jar away from Rosetta¡¯s embrace. The darkened jar of cookies brought to light. Abigail gently opened the glass lid. Cookie by cookie. Piece by piece. Into Abigail¡¯s tiny tummy. To be honest, Abigail¡¯s stomach was already filled with Syndesi¡¯s cookies. But that did not stop her from taking in more. Abigail could feel the inner walls of her stomach expanding ever so slightly with each additional cookie she ate. It was not a pleasant sensation. Rosetta was confused. ¡°Is my cookies really that nice?¡± Rosetta accidentally blurted out what was on her mind. ¡°They are alright!¡± Of course, cookies were alright! The cookies were never the problem. It was her stomach.Stolen story; please report. Rosetta was hesitant to ask but she did anyways... ¡°Better than Syndesi¡¯s cookies?¡± ¡°No way! If you are a junior baker, Syndesi would be Michellin-class!¡° ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then give it back! I don¡¯t need your sympathy!¡± Rosetta tried to snatch the jar back but Abigail got up and hopped further into the light. Rosetta bit her lips and retreated into darkness. ¡°This ain¡¯t sympathy...there¡¯s something more to your cookies, you know? You have something that Syndesi doesn¡¯t? Wanna know what it is?¡± ¡°Just spill the beans! Stop playing with my feelings!!¡± ¡°You have ME!! And I would have your cookies over Syndesi¡¯s any time of the day because...you¡¯re my friend. MY BEST FRIEND!!! That¡¯s what you mean to me! Why can¡¯t you see it? I LOVE your cookies! Because YOU made it!¡± Abigail¡¯s battle outcry shook Rosetta. There was no reply. No answer. Abigail stuck her back to the wall and sat in the foetal position a second time. It was as if a mirror separated them. Light and Shadow. ¡°Sorry Abigail. I was too harsh.¡± Abigail stood up, shook off the dust and reached out her hand to Rosetta. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can¡¯t say it didn¡¯t hurt but I will still be here for you. Because....that¡¯s what friends do!¡± ¡°Yeah you¡¯re right.¡± Rosetta gripped Abigail¡¯s hand and stepped into the light. ¡°And just to clarify, I don¡¯t dislike Syndesi. She¡¯s fun, friendly and outgoing. But she¡¯s not my close friend, YOU ARE. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here for you, Silly!¡± ¡°Besides, I think you should try talking to Syndesi. She¡¯s so open and friendly to everyone. If you are scared, I can lend you a helping hand haha. I mean you are always the one helping me out, I didnt expect you to be so weak...mentally HAHA¡± Rosetta was perturbed at that comment. Abigail was clearly getting on her nerves. "WOAH WOAH CHILL, I was just kidding Rosetta. But seriously, if you wanna learn more about Syndesi, I can help you! Who knows? You might be get better at baking too! Alright, it''s decided then, we will hit her up after school. To be honest, I am WAYYYY more scared of Ruth. She''s always so cold and aloof like Elsa from Frozen. I tried talking to her before but I was completely SHUT DOWN. And she always seems to be observing everyone. It''s kinda creepy you know!" ¡°I get what you mean! That¡¯s why I was surprised when she spoke up today. Anyways, thanks for the pep talk! About talking to Syndesi, let¡¯s put that aside first. We need to get back to class before recess is over.¡± ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s get going then!¡± She had no one. Or so she thought. Chapter 18 - True Bestie You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. But things weren¡¯t looking as optimistic for Ruth and Syndesi. Chapter 19 - Invisible Wall Most of the students were leaving school like Abigail and Rosetta. Some in groups. Some in pairs. Others alone. All had left the classroom except for Ruth and Syndesi. They were the earliest to arrive but the latest to leave. The noise in the corridors slowly dying down to a standstill silence. Ruth never liked crowds so she always waited until everyone had left. As she was packing her bag, pretending to find a reasonable excuse to stay in class, Syndesi tried to strike a conversation. As always. ¡°Hey Ruth, are you going home? Shall we go together?¡± ¡°No.¡± A downward-inflecting tone. There was no room for questions. It was a statement. The end. Ruth simply continued keeping the rest of her files and textbooks in her bag. Ruth was back to her usual self. She didn¡¯t want to get involved any further. She learnt her lesson. She¡¯s not going to let that happen again. Nothing good comes out of being emotionally invested in people who don¡¯t matter.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Ruth stood up with her bag and pushed in her chair. She walked behind Syndesi who was still on her chair, without another word. ¡°You know Ruth. Sometimes I really don¡¯t get you.¡± Ruth came to a halt. ¡°This morning, you felt so warm and easy to talk to. But other times, you are cold and distant. It¡¯s as though you have an invisible wall around you. And I can only peek through the tiny cracks in the bricks to see what¡¯s within. But every time I get closer to those bricks, a cold wind pushes me miles away. And it becomes tougher to get to the walls each time I¡¯m pushed away.¡± ¡°I want to get to know you better Ruth. If you would just give me a ...¡± Before Syndesi could finish her sentence, Ruth walked out of the classroom. ¡°...chance.¡± Syndesi didn¡¯t understand the intention of Ruth¡¯s actions. ¡°Why did she help me then?¡± Syndesi swallowed her tears and stormed out of the classroom in the opposite direction. By then, Ruth was already gone. Nowhere to be seen. A string sought to pierce through the adamantine wall. Crack! A consequential crack surfaced on the bricks of the invisible wall. Chapter 20 - The Ice Princess Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. But she wasn¡¯t ready to confront the snow yet. Chapter 21 - Misanthropic Prodigy Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Chapter 22 - Through the Eyes of Another at least D¨¦j¨¤ vu.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Not of her own but of another. Chapter 23 - Levi鈥檚 Playground There the young boy sat. Alone. With a school bag by his side. His short stature made it impossible for his legs to come into contact with the ground while he was on the swing. He grasped a diary with both his hands on the sides. A firm grip that signified his deadly persistence to never let go. Nevertheless, he made sure to leave pockets of air between his palms and the diary. In fear of leaving even the slightest scratch on his diary and picture. Syndesi stretched out her hand slowly as she inched bit by bit. With caution. She couldn¡¯t differentiate if this fleeting child was real or hallucinatory. And she needed to know the answer. She was close! But hesitation caused her to retract her hand abruptly. Taking a deep breath, she gathered every fortitude she could squeeze from her tiny self. She was ready. She had never been more resolute in her 7 years of life. She closed one eye and reached out her index finger in an abysmal attempt to poke his shoulder.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. But he was intangible. Like a hologram, Syndesi¡¯s finger phased through him. No reaction from the boy. Syndesi tried a few more times to be sure. If we counted the number of times the boy¡¯s shoulder was perforated, there would have been a conspicuous bruise by now. She tried waving. Shouting. Making funny faces. To no avail. After what seemed like hours in this minute, Syndesi finally completed her examination. She stood up, leaned forward and took a glimpse. A portrait picture laid benevolently flat on top of the diary. The smile of the young woman could brighten even the sun in all its glory. Innocence. Tenderness. Compassion. ¡°Eve. The Giver of Life.¡± Syndesi uttered unwittingly. These words that came out of her mouth stupefied her. She had no idea how she knew or why she said it. The words popped into her mind and emerged from her mouth involuntarily. Syndesi was deep in thought, straining her brain cells to process what had transpired. But the words that came out of the boy¡¯s mouth jolted Syndesi from her thoughts. "Mom...¡± The little boy murmured in a barely audible voice. He resisted the intense shaking of his body and suppressed his tears. ¡°Where are you?¡± Chapter 24 - The Hidden Mask Except today. And it had to be today. It had to be one day before Mother¡¯s Day. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. strange Not today. Chapter 25 - White Lie Levi no longer hid his feelings. For there was no one around to judge him. It was painful beyond measure. Ironically, painless too. She was gone. Just gone. An orphan is a child who lost his parents. But what do you call a child who lost his mother? There¡¯s no term to describe such a child. And there¡¯s no words to quantify his pain as well. An orphan wouldn¡¯t be able to comprehend the pain. For he never experienced parental love. But for the one who knew the taste of love. For the one who had a loving father. He could only bury the agony in his heart. For the torrent of heartache would only add to his father¡¯s endless grief. But in this park, quiet and empty. He finally had an outlet to release his emotions. ¡°Mom...¡± A single teardrop rested on the picture of his deceased mother. ¡°Where are you?¡± The first drop was not without its companions. As tears overflowed his eyelids, he used one hand to wipe away every tear he could. While the other hand held dearly to his precious diary.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°I...I miss you mom.¡± Syndesi desperately reached out her hand to gently wipe off the tears on the little boy. But she could never come into contact with him. It was futile. And she knew that. She knew he couldn¡¯t see her. But that didn¡¯t stop her from trying again and again and again. After his tears got to see the light of day, his crying momentarily ceased. The little boy took the white letter sandwiched between the picture and the diary. As he heaved deep breaths to prevent his snot from running, he opened the letter. Inside was a handmade card. A card he was supposed to write to his mother on Mother¡¯s Day Eve. Syndesi leaned forward to take a closer look. Blank. No it couldn¡¯t be. Blank. I¡¯m sure I saw wrongly. Blank. Syndesi¡®s doubts were soon answered as Levi took out a fountain pen and wrote in black ink. He penned down the words he couldn¡¯t write in class. Dear Mom, Happy Mother¡¯s Day! It¡¯s Levi again. I hope you are doing good up there! I heard there¡¯s only joy and no sadness in heaven. I wish it¡¯s like that on earth too. Today, I had lots of fun in class. I made friends. And everyone is friendly. I¡¯m doing great! So don¡¯t worry about me, okay! He was lying. Dad and I are both coping well so, all¡¯s good! Dad has also been working real hard to spread love to the world through your recipes. We are both living our lives the way you wanted us to. I¡¯m sure you would be happy if you saw us. Still lying. I got to go now! Talk to you again Mom! I love you! Love, Levi Syndesi could tell Levi didn¡¯t mean what he wrote. If he did, then why was he still crying? Why was sorrow painted over his face? Chapter 26 - The Mother Fox Levi turned the card over. A splash of red, white and pink. A mother fox kissing the forehead of her baby. Her furry tail were clouds that cloaked the sun like a thin veil. Warmth embraced that cub even in the coldest of winter. It didn¡¯t need to fend for himself, nor find food to survive the storm. It simply cuddled in its mother¡¯s hug and trusted her heartbeat. A sign of life in the present. All he ever wanted was a normal life. To be a child like everybody else. To have both parents to welcome you home from school. To fight, quarrel and make up the next day. To eat around the table and scoop food for his father and mother. To have parents by his side. To cheer him on when he¡¯s done well. To stroke his back when he¡¯s down. A hand he could hold. A person he could hug. Why did you have to go? Why did you have to leave me alone? Why didn¡¯t you take Dad away too so I could just leave this cruel world and join you? Why? Why! Levi clenched his fists till they hardened like rock. It only reminded him that there wasn¡¯t any hand he could hold. All he had was himself. He wanted to believe that. He would have prayed that it was never a story of two but of one. But he knew his father was still here. He couldn¡¯t just lay in the snow like an abandoned cub and let the frost bites gnaw at his soul. Dying alone as the blizzard numbed his pain. For the past 12 years, he had been holding it in. Every moment. Every second. He always looked beyond the windowsill of his ghostly classroom. He always wanted to know how it felt like for life to be over. A jump wasn¡¯t so hard. Death wasn¡¯t scary. No. It was release. It was freedom. But the dark red chains that clasped his bleeding heart held him back. His father were like chains that nudged his frozen heart. The heat from his father¡¯s love melted the ice and made him aware of the pain again.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. This was too much for 7-year-old Syndesi. She could hear his unspoken thoughts through haunting words that seemed to float like ghosts in the air. It was like she could see his naked heart surrounded by chains dripping blood. At this rate, she was going to go insane. Just then, a summer breeze blew away all the gore and pain. It was like a painter splashed all the vibrant colours on his monochrome canvas that only knew black and white. An invisible string tugged Syndesi¡¯s heart from the azure skies above that were given the colour blue by the artist. The bloodthirsty words vanished as the rays of the sun illuminated the jet black tunnel. She was connected to someone. Someone that felt familiar. A vestige that seemed to exist somewhere. Out of this world. ¡°Eve?¡± She knew this person¡¯s name. She didn¡¯t know how or why but she knew her name. And she could feel her presence taking over her body temporarily like a vessel. This spirit emanated life force that felt like a soothing hot chocolate drink in a cold season. Syndesi didn¡¯t know who she was or what it was. But she knew this delicate entity meant no harm. Like a puppet on strings, Syndesi moved her arms. She embraced the little boy like the mother fox and kissed his forehead. This time, he could feel it. Levi looked around but there was no one. An empty park with no one in sight. But it no longer felt so empty. He placed the card on his lap and moved his diary to the front. He turned the pages, worn and torn by time¡¯s passing until he reached a blank new page. A white page. Like how he will write Syndesi into existence 13 years later, he began writing. But this time, it was not a white lie. He removed a second mask he was wearing beneath his skin. This time, it was his true thoughts.