But Valarie would have to learn that it was only through healing her own wounds and ultimately letting go and forgiving transgressors, and herself, that would allow her to move on, move forward, and truly love, truly relive. But the process wouldn't spare her, it wouldn't take any shortcuts, and if she wasn't careful, it could easily kill her, throw her off a bridge, or choke the life from her body. Sophia was full of mischief, an adorable child who was in tune with her parents' ups and downs. He flourished in the release of their desperation and drank in love's peace offering. If special could be defined in a special way, then Sophia was all it would be. Not long ago this sweet little girl seemed content to take her time growing up. Her slim body and laughing eyes had filled every room with sweetness. His shy, gentle smile told his story. It grew fast and was bright. Her parents' hauntings had not gone unnoticed and she began to show signs of confusion and worry, with little questions here and there. His adolescence passed with the normal ups and downs of adolescence. There was a time, however, when he became very angry with them. He had sensed the things left unsaid and the atmosphere of unease. He had tried to bring it to their attention because of the innocence of his youth. How they had rejected her claims, how they had closed ranks against her, protecting what time there was, keeping their secrets from her. For a while he tried to get beyond their walls but he couldn't and didn't know how, so he resigned himself to accepting their ways, however uncomfortable. It took too much for Sophia and she knew she would get nowhere. . He watched them in his silence, knowing something,...... middle of paper...... beware of disturbances in the house. He was embarking on his quest and would soon discover what life was all about. She would soon realize that there are many paths ahead of her and where they lead her would depend on which one she took and the choices she made. It would determine a great deal of the time that was to come. Her parents had also noticed the distance Sophia was creating between them. She seemed so lost in thought, so worried about herself. He wanted less intrusion from them. He spent more time in the bedroom or outside. But there was something else that was different about her. Now she had her own secret and although she sometimes looked forward to sharing it, not knowing and wondering what her parents would say delayed her. She was more worried about her father and would have already told her mother, but she was afraid that he would tell her.