It’s because you are human and you have the freedom to make good and bad decisions. But don’t be overwhelmed by the fear of the unknown or the burden of the past. It is one of the things that make you powerful.” After a slow nod, Phoebe tried to absorb what Sarah said.Phoebe gasped for air when she realized the implication of what Sarah was saying. She had been a prisoner of her own thoughts regarding the wrong decision and now she realized that there would be no right decision. Life was complex, chaotic and full of the unknown. But Sarah was right. The only real error would be to let herself stagnate, to be afraid to take that leap, to do something different, to be confident in herself.Phoebe sank back into the couch, her limbs growing even more leaden than they had been before, as if the burden of the decision she had yet to make was weighing her down. She looked out the window, at the orange, warm light of the evening that painted the world in peaceful color so unlike the storm t
The dead silence of the room followed her remark as if she had put a rain cloud over the sun, which was already clouded in Phoebe’s consciousness. She was uncomfortable with the fact that Marlin had been keeping something personal from her. What could it be? She began to try and solve the jigsaw in her head."What do you mean, Gloria?" The latter question was whispered by Phoebe.Gloria tilted her head forward and looked serious. Marlin has been watching Seth for a long time. He has been accumulating his ammunition, dust if you will, for the day to catch him off guard. There is something, something from Seth’s past that Marlin plans to hold against him and bring him down. It is something that Seth himself is not aware of, possessing or having concealed."Phoebe gasped. "What could that be? Seth is careful. He is very particular with everything."Gloria shook her head slowly. ‘It’s something deeper,’ Phoebe. Well, Marlin has always been one step ahead. So now that he’s backed into a co
The gravity of the situation seemed to sink into Phoebe and her eyes welled up with tears. “But what if that future doesn’t exist or they are not part of it?”Gloria smiled bitterly. “Then perhaps that is what you need to do.” Marlin’s chaos may have thrown you into asking these questions earlier than you wanted to, but perhaps it is high time to stop running. Perhaps the moment has come to start choosing what one’s life should be like.Phoebe took a deep breath as she desperately attempted to control the storm that was going on in her mind. “And what if Seth doesn’t forgive me for walking away?”Gloria’s voice was calm, it was focused, and it was the only thing that seemed to make any sense at all. “If this boy named Seth really loves you, he will be able to comprehend it.” But if Christian loves you as he has said, he will set you free to make your decision when the time comes.”Phoebe nodded slowly and a flame of determination started to burn in her. “I need time. Time to work out
It was such a short drive to Seth’s house that it felt like the car took hours to get there. She was having palpitations by the time she parked her car in front of the familiar driveway. She had to calm herself down before she got out of the car and so she took a deep breath.Seth was in the living room when she got in, his eyes unfocused, and he appeared to be deep in contemplation. When she appeared, his face changed from surprise to suspicion."Phoebe?" he said, standing up. "I wasn’t expecting you."Phoebe didn’t waste any time. She moved directly towards him with her gaze focused on him. "We need to talk, Seth. And I need you to be honest with me. No more secrets. No more evasions."Seth’s forehead creased but he did not argue. "What’s this about?"Phoebe took a deep breath to calm herself and her voice was clear. "It’s about Marlin. That’s the thing, Seth he is up to something. Something big, and it has to do with your past, something to do with your father.”Seth stood still, h
Looking quite scared, Phoebe asked You mean the bald man I saw at the beach or the man I met in the car park? Seth had never elaborated when his father died to them, but she had thought that Seth never chose to talk about it and that he was still mourning.“What kind of dealings?” Phoebe inquired, and her voice was very soft.He looked at her, his eyes guilty, ‘Seth said’. “Money laundering. Fraud. He was mixing it with some bad company and you know when things started getting hot… he ensured that I was not dragged into the mess. He asked me to promise him not to speak a word about it to anyone in order to cover the family’s reputation.”Seth nodded grimly. “Somehow, he found out. He probably went round searching for documents I assumed no longer existed in our archives. That’s why if he reveals this… everything is at risk of being ended. Our Careers and even our lives”Fear gripped Phoebe in the chest. Scars of past life were clearly present in Seth and she could feel that he was suf
“Of course,” said Sarah as soon as she could. “It is better if you just specify the place because I will always be there.”Phoebe suggested a park near her old house, a place familiar to her and Sarah, they have shared the best and the worst of their times there. After she put the phone down she took a deep breath in an attempt to get her mind to stop spinning.There was not much distance to the park, but the burden of the revelations made the ride a lifetime. When she was able to park the car and look for Sarah standing close to one of the familiar benches they used to sit on, relief filled Phoebe. Sarah was the epitome of calmness and comfort and right now, she was what she needed.They hugged, and after a while Sarah stepped back to look at Phoebe’s face, frowning. “I think you’ve been through a storm,” said the woman softly.Phoebe let out a shaky laugh. "I have, Sarah. And I don’t know if I’ll be able to weather it.”They both sat on the bench and for several minutes, no one said
“Seth,” she started, her voice composed, “I require you to inform me of all that happened.” No more secrets. If we are going to move forward, I want the truth.”Seth looked at her and cleared his throat, his gaze turning into a deep shade of blue as he put his glass down. Do you really want to know? Once I tell you, you cannot undo that situation."“I’m sure,” Phoebe said confidently, her eyes locking with his, and her determination reflected in them. >If there is any chance for us to get out of this alive I need to know the real you the things you have never told me the things you have done wrong. Seth, I really don’t think that it’s right for us to continue seeing each other anymore, I need to know the real you.He looked at her for a second, then simply nodded his head, his eyes showing that he was defeated yet open. "Alright," he said quietly. "I’ll tell you everything."The things that Seth had locked away in his soul the sins he committed, the regrets he had, the wounds he boreP
Phoebe sighed and there was a tiny glimmer of hope, as small as a flame that attempted to fight against the wind. Then I’ll take my time to decide.” And while I do, I need space, Seth. I have to find out who I am apart from this relationship, and what I want in my life.Seth nodded and a look of sadness, yet comprehension crossed his face. "I understand. I’ll be here… whenever you’re ready."Phoebe simply looked at him and then got up, the pressure of the evening squarely on her shoulders. She left the room and stood at the door staring at him for a moment. You were right to tell me the truth, Seth. It means much more than you may think.”She departed and the quiet that followed seemed to expand, suffocating the room with the aftertaste of the conversation we just had. And as she stepped out into the cool night air, Phoebe felt a strange sort of liberation, a sweet bitter taste of freedom that is born from the awareness that one owns one’s own heart.In the next few days, Phoebe burie