Chapter Eleven: Eavesdropping

She had done it. She had finally sealed her daughter's soul to an infernal book. The Third reminded her that immortality will soon be hers. It was cause for celebration, but Sisi was disgusted at the thought of it.

She opened the book and began to read Isabel's mind. The latest chapter wrote itself, letters forming into words and into sentences, flitting across the page like a lit fuse. She read about Isabel's opinion of her mother, the one who didn't care for anyone but herself. Isabel had expected Sisi not to be in the funeral, and it would be a great relief if she didn't show up. The last thing she needed was an insane, selfish woman derailing someone's eulogy.

Sisi flipped to a different chapter, disgusted at what she had read, but mainly disgusted at herself. She read about Isabel's first kiss, a private and intimate moment. In it detailed the tingling sensation and the butterflies that had made Isabel giddy inside. Hearts were kept; heart were broken. Such was the cycle of life and young love. Sisi skipped at the part of her first WooHoo.

Sisi turned to an earlier chapter. She then landed on Isabel's first meeting with her. She couldn't read her mind then, but now everything was at the open. Isabel didn't think highly of her mother, and she was more of a stranger to her. However, her father always insisted that she will care for her and love her, yet Sisi had turned them away, had screamed at them to go and never come back. At that moment in her life, Isabel had cried because seeing her father tear up hurt her more.

Sisi closed the book and wept.

The funeral went on without Sisi. A week had passed, and Sisi remained in her mansion, alone. She fought with herself—not with Isis or with The Third. Just herself, debating whether to reach out to her daughter or not. She wanted to set things right, to return what Isabel had lost. A futile thought, but the minutiae of hope pacified her troubled soul.

After tending the garden, Sisi opened Isabel's book and did some research. From what she had read, Isabel loved the playground as a kid and had fond memories of it. There were entries where Isabel, even as an adult, would visit the park and reminisce the days of her youth.

Sisi mustered all her courage and took out her phone. She dialed Isabel's number. While she waited for her to answer, Sisi read the latest pages being written. Isabel did not want to talk to her so all calls were ignored.

After the fifth attempt, Sisi left a voicemail, telling Isabel that she'll be available by cellphone. If she wanted to talk and if she wanted to reconnect, Sisi would be at the park waiting for her.

The next day, Sisi went to the park, and while she waited, she read more chapters on Isabel's life. When she finished the chapter about the funeral, she flipped to the back and skimmed the current events. Just her luck, Isabel had been around the area, but had fled at the sight of Sisi. She closed the book and sighed.

Yet she persisted. Every day, she left the same voicemail and waited at the same bench. When Sisi caught up with all of Isabel's chapters, she remained vigilant at the newer entries, reliving the narrative that wrote itself before her eyes.

Finally, Isabel invited the thought of reconnecting with her mother. Like every other sim (as well as other sims in different realities), she debated with herself, thinking about the pros and cons of seeing her distant and insane mother. Sisi held her breath. When she turned the page, she smiled at what she had read. She closed the book, hid it inside her purse and waited for Isabel's arrival.