The Dark Side of Introversion and other stories.

SYLVIA'S DILEMMA

She then tried visiting multiple churches, and similarly, they all said the same thing, "Forgive", "Love your enemies". She tried, she desperately tried, to forget all that happened and forgive her Uncle but no, she just couldn't. The memories haunted her constantly, and she cried herself to sleep every night.

Sylvia then contemplated suicide, but couldn't go through with it.

On one of her visits to a therapist, she was prescribed with antidepressants, and she immediately became addicted, for they were the only means through which she could escape the sadness. She overdosed multiple times and was twice admitted into a hospital. Her life became a complete mess, and she blamed and cursed Uncle Thomas everyday. She completely fell into depression, which turned to anger, and eventually turned to hatred.

Now, for the first time in 8 years, she was going to see his face again. The thought sent shivers down her spine and inwardly, she became conflicted. She had two options. Forgive and forget everything her uncle did to her, or seek revenge. The second choice seemed more pleasing to her. In her mind she entertained different scenarios in which she could humiliate him and force him to apologise. Yes, she wanted him to be disgraced and thrown in a cell for all eternity. She smiled as the thought gave her a slight feeling of happiness. But would humiliation and an apology be enough to set her mind at ease and erase the pain from all the years of trauma?

Sylvia finally got to the arrivals hall and stopped. It was crowded, with the hundreds more who were also waiting for their friends and family to alight from the newly arrived plane. She stood impatiently and her hands trembled, as she waited for the man who was responsible for her current predicament.

Alas, the doors opened and there he was, dressed in a black suit and tie. He carried a briefcase with his right hand and dragged a small travel box with his left. Immediately she set her eyes on him, Sylvia felt her heart burn. In her mind, voices yelled at her: "Forgive... Forgive... Forgive..." But Sylvia quickly dismissed them. She needed no further persuasion. She had long decided how best to settle her score with her uncle and her mind was already made up.

Sylvia kept her eyes locked on him and watched as he glanced through the crowd, searching for a familiar face. When he found her, a bright smile appeared on his face and he began pacing in her direction.

At least one of us is happy to see the other, she thought, and advanced quickly towards him. As they finally closed the gap between them, Uncle Thomas dropped his luggage on the floor and spread open his arms for an embrace, while Sylvia, forcefully walked right into it.

"It's been a long time, my dear", said Uncle Thomas cheerfully.

"Welcome, Uncle", Sylvia replied coldly.

The hug lasted for a while, but soon, the smile on Uncle Thomas' face faded, and his expression changed from joy, to confusion, to surprise. He could feel something prodding against his stomach. He pushed Sylvia away from him, and only then did he notice the small handgun, which Sylvia held firmly pointed at him.

No one noticed when Sylvia had put her right arm in her hoodie pocket. No one noticed when she pulled out the gun and concealed it in the arm of her hoodie. No one noticed when she advanced towards her uncle with the gun hidden behind her. All they heard, was the sudden scream of an old man, and a dull thud as he dropped to the floor, Chaos ensued in the airport.

Sylvia stood frozen with the gun trembling in her palm. This was her revenge; a decision she made two days ago. She had always wished for this day and she was prepared to face the consequences. So why, at this crucial moment, was she not able to pull the trigger?

Sylvia heard screams, and she heard sirens, but she never took her eyes off the face of Uncle Thomas. She tried as much as she could to force her body to listen to her commands and pull the trigger.

Just then, a loud gunshot rang throughout the airport. Uncle Thomas screamed aloud in panic, "Help me! This evil girl has shot me!"

Sylvia was confused. She didn't know when she finally pulled the trigger, but on closer inspection, she realized that she in fact, had not. She lifted her eyes from Uncle Thomas and glanced in front of her, only then noticing the police officers who were pointing guns at her.

In that moment, she finally felt it, a painful burning sensation. She glanced down at her body, and immediately noticed the dark red spot in the middle of her chest. She tried to scream, but her vocal cords failed to respond. Her breathing became labored, and her body went numb. The gun she held dropped, and she too followed suit, falling backwards onto the cold floor. A feeling of helplessness and regret filled her body, as her mind gradually faded out of consciousness.

Not (The End)