Freedom. It was only one word, which most wouldn't really marvel at, given their quite normal lives. Those people never knew true desperation, or how it really felt to be trapped. To Chell, freedom was a word that rung in her head like the bells of the local church, sending a familiar message out for all to hear, and most to gather around. Freedom was everything to her. It's what kept her going her whole life. It was the promise of such beauty and opportunity beyond a harsh, dull, grey world. That world, so lifeless and cold, is what she'd known for so long. Even there, the word found it's way into her soul, triggering dreams and warmth, while sparking a new kind of energy that fueled her to achieve those dreams and hold close that warmth. Despite all she's been through, freedom kept her on her feet, and her head held high. Yes, she'd been lied to about freedom, and had it ripped away from her a few times, but its light never faded, even after it was nowhere in sight. Today, here she stands. Strong, unmoved, and untouched by the world she left behind. Freedom did that for her, and she couldn't thank it enough. Not only did she have freedom on her side, but she also had a new light in her life. It was everything to her, possibly more than freedom. This new light was unlike any other she'd ever known. Chell made this light her whole world, and would stop at nothing to keep it safe.

This light's name was Hope.

Dark brown hair, her mother's silver eyes, and a round, rosy face. Yes, she had her mother's eyes, but they were much more full of life. Curiosity, innocence, joy, hope. Of course, hope was the feeling for which Chell's new light was named. Hope was what kept her believing in freedom, and this precious daughter of her's would be a daily reminder of that.

Don't give up. Chell would tell herself when times got hard. Remember Hope.

She would often tell her daughter the same thing, although Hope barely needed reminding. Chell was proud of her for seeing the world through a colorful lens. Where her mother saw darkness and dull feelings, Hope saw a chance to spread the entire rainbow, and a dash of sunshine. She'd pick out the best in complete strangers, and make friends with just about anybody.

What did I do to deserve you? Chell would often wonder.

Hope seemed to be perfect in every way. She was even born that way, for when she was a baby there were rarely ever days where she'd cry. It was only smiling, giggling over the smallest things, and even that little skip in her step once she first learned to walk. After nine years, nothing had changed. Hope was always the same, and Chell couldn't be more proud. Hope, her light, her beacon, her tether to the world, would always be there. So long as Chell was living, Hope would keep her going, just as she'd done before.

Chell leaned back in the porch swing as the rain pattered on the tin roof above her. She closed her eyes and took in the sounds of that rainy Saturday evening. The raindrops, the distant sound of cars creeping along wet pavement, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, and laughter.

Hope leapt over all three steps to the porch, landing straight in the center of a large puddle. Water flew out in every direction, splattering against the sidewalk, some bushes, and even some of Chell.

"Hey!" she laughed. "I'm right here."

"I know." Hope teased, hands behind her back, making her look all innocent.

"I know that look. You want me to join in, don't you?"

Hope nodded, then shook her head.

"I dunno, maybe I do, maybe I don't."

Chell smirked and jogged inside, returning to the porch with a pair of red rain boots.

"Okay, I'll join, but you'll regret it."

Before Hope could dash away, Chell hopped off the porch and stomped in the puddle next to her.

"Mom!" she laughed. "Now I'm-"

"What? Wet? I know that."

"No, I was gonna say not going easy on you!"

Hope stomped back, sending a sizable splash over Chell's boots and onto her sweatpants.

Chell then pretended to fall dramatically.

"Oh, you got me!"

Hope giggled, then proceeded to gloat over her victory.

"But I won't go down that easy!" Chell said, scooping up some water with her hand and flicking it at Hope.

The two proceeded to have a water fight in the rain, until it became a downpour. Afterward, they came inside and dried off for dinner. Chell wasn't the best cook, but throughout her time living among other people, she learned to manage. She wasn't a bad cook, there were just certain ingredients she couldn't work with. Like apples, or onions. Or potatoes. She definitely couldn't cook with potatoes.

Hope marched into the kitchen and tugged at her mother's shirt.

"What's for dinner? Is it ramen again? It smells like ramen."

"No hun, it's not ramen."

Hope tilted her head.

"Then what is it?"

Chell smiled.

"Go on, it's the..."

"Guessing game! Oh we haven't done this in ages!"

Chell lowered the spoonful of soup broth so Hope could get a taste. She carefully blew on the spoon and took a sip.

"Hmmm... definitely a soup."

Hope pressed her hand to her chin and thought for a moment. Sometimes the guessing game was hard when all you could smell was the wrong answer. The guessing game was something Chell did with Hope to pass the time during the summer, when Hope didn't have school. They wouldn't just play it with dinner, but with other random tasks around the house as well. For example, when Hope needed to brush her teeth before bed, Chell would put a flavor of toothpaste of choice on her brush, and have Hope guess which one her mother chose. If she guessed right, Chell would have to guess next time they played. It wasn't a very complicated game, but it made the boring tasks fun too.

"I think it's... chicken noodle soup. Final answer." Hope finally answered, matter-of-factly.

Chell nodded.

"Dang it, you're so good at this game. Are you cheating?"

"No. I'm just more skilled."

She couldn't help but grin at her daughter's very bold statement. It had some truth to it, for Hope was every bit as smart as her mother, as well as stubborn. On the rare occasion that Hope did lose the guessing game, she would never admit defeat.

"Alright little lady, I hope you're skilled enough to get to the table before I eat it all then."

Hope rushed to the table and took her seat in one of the chairs, pulling it forwards and causing it to squeak along the scratched tile floor.

"Soup!" she exclaimed, excited.

Chell set the steaming pot down on the table and scooped some of the warm golden goodness into a bowl, then passed the bowl to Hope. She then helped herself and took her seat across from her. The two happily enjoyed their meal, watching the rain fall peacefully outside the large dining room window.

I'll have to clean that window. Chell noted, eying all the dust and smudges around the edges.

She paused a moment once she spotted the dust covering the third dining chair, which sat just in front of the window.

And that chair. When I get to it.

That chair wasn't something Chell really liked to be around. Just it's spot at the table alone brought up rocky memories that she didn't want to poke at. Life was better now that she wasn't trapped in his grasp. Chell had freedom. and she'd never even think give that up to go back to the way things were, when that empty chair was filled.

You'll live without him. You've been living without him just fine. Remember Hope. she told herself.

Chell tore her gaze away from the chair and back to her soup. She could always clean the windows later.