Chapter 5: Topics

"If we would have known
We surely would have solved it."

"Hey, Syd. You happy to be home?" Nate asked, as they pulled up in the driveway. She didn't answer, she just smiled softly at him. As they all climbed out of the car, Sydney hesitantly got out of the back.

"Sydney – bags." Her father demanded as they all enter the house, except Sydney and Shane. She rolled her eyes at her dad an opened up the boot, Shane followed closely behind.

"Shane, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Helping out." He took and bag out which Sydney quickly snatched off of him. "Don't."

He went to protest but stopped and just took another bag out of the car. "Shane." She warned but he ignored her and carried the bag into the house – Sydney close behind. When Shane placed the bags on the floor by the stairs, it made his father's eyes. "Shane? What are you doing?"

"Helping." He answered simply. Sydney swallowed hard and dropped the bags next to the one that Shane placed down.

"But we asked Sydney. You've been working hard the past 6 months, She's be doing nothing."

Shane laughed bitterly and soon his mother was by their father's side. "She's been doing more than I have my whole life."

"Shane, darling. What's gotten into you?" His mother asked softly. He didn't answer but as Sydney discreetly tired to exit but was catch swiftly by her father. "Has she been feeding you these lies?"

"They're not lies." He was being so stubborn and Sydney wished he would stop but he carried out – his mouth running wild. "You guys are horrible."

His parents flinched at his words, they adored Shane, he was a honour to them but now Sydney had changed that. "Sydney. What have been telling your bro-Shane? You're lying. You're just jealous because he's got talent and you're useless."

"That's not true." Sydney choked out, whoa, where did that come from? But as soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them straight away. She was grabbed forcefully by the arm and pushed up the stairs. "You are useless. You should accept that!" He growled and shoved her into her room, she landed on the floor with a thud. Her father looked around for something, almost revenge for ruining his relationship with Shane. He saw the CD player that Sydney cherished. He grabbed it off the shelf and she suddenly bolted up to her feet. "No, you can't."

He glared at her and dropped the CD player to the floor with so much force it shattered into pieces. Sydney flinched and her eyes began to water – this was all Shane's fault.

Shane stood downstairs with his mother as he heard the sound of smashing, what had he done? He had to urge to run upstairs but he couldn't, his legs would let him. He could feel his mum watching him, her eyes pierced through his skin. He slowly faced her, "Shane, let us handle it, OK?" Her tone was so patronizing but once again, Shane was too naïve and fell for it.

About three hours later, Sydney was still in the same position. She sat with her back to the door, rocking gently – her thoughts were suffocating her. Was it worth it any more? No. Her eyes flickered up to her desk. She stumbled to her feet, she felt light-headed. She fumbled around for a pen and a old piece of paper and scribbled down all her feelings. She poured her heart and soul into a space of one sheet of paper. When she was done, she left it on her bed and exited her room. Not caring who saw; not caring who heard. She stumbled down the stairs and out of the back door, passing Jason, who looked at her a shrugged. She stormed across the decking and down the wooden creaky steps which lead to the beach. The beach was magical, the beach could take the pain away. She crossed across the soft yellow sand and stopped right next to the water, it swept across the sand and soaked her shoes.

She took one step in.

Two Steps in.

Three Steps.

Four.

He slowly entered Sydney's room – it was empty. He looked around confused, where did she go? A letter placed on the pillow of Sydney's bed caught his attention. It couldn't be what he thought it was. He picked up the letter and looked at her writing – ignoring the spelling mistakes.

Shane,

Of course you would be the one to find this. I know.

You're the only one who cares about me.

I know, you tried to help me, stand up for me but,

it would never work Shane.

They brainwashed you, though you may not believe it.

They turned you into a naïve little boy even though you may be seventeen.

I've gotten to the stage where, I don't what's the point any more.

It's leading nowhere, so I feel like it's better to just end it now.

I know, I've let you down.

And about what happened a few hours ago.

It wasn't your fault.

Good luck with the career and future. I knew you would make it big.

Right from when were kids. You sure were talented.

I've gone now, to the only place I know where it can all go away.

Syd.

Shane's eyes blurred up. It was a suicide note. He's breath got caught in his throat, he had to stop her. I've gone now, to the only place I know where it can all go away. "The ocean." He whispered to no one. He ran over to the window searching desperately for his darked haired sister. He blinked rapidly – trying to clear his vision. Then in the distance he saw her – her messy black hair was about the only thing that stood out to him. He dropped the letter and ran for her life. "Whoa, Shane? Where's the emergency?" Jason joked from his seat but Shane ignored him and flung the back-door open. "Shane?"

Four years old. Sitting next to mummy on the sofa – Shane, Jason and Nate were singing. When they finished both Sydney and Mummy clapped. "Well done boys. They were great weren't they Syd?" She nodded enthusiastically.

Six years old. Trying to get mummy's attention. "That's good, fantastic. Well done." She praised her sons as they finished showing her their new song. "Mummy! Look, I got a star at school today."

"That's nice, sweetheart." She mumbled then focused back on Shane, Jason and Nate.

Ten years old. Called into school. "Sydney's work has been deteriorating quite a lot, so we took it to our advantage to do some tests on her and the results have come back positive that she does have Dyslexia." They rolled their eyes, they didn't have time for this.

Sydney opened her eyes, the water was just past her shoulders. She wanted to go back to the past, where everything was perfect and normal – like the average family. The water was now round her neck and the water was getting rougher and rougher. There was no going back, this was the end.

He belted across the sand but he couldn't see her, he started to panic. "No, No. Sydney!" He yelled out, hoping she would just swim back to shore. He would make everything better, he couldn't lose her. "Sydney!" He called again but there was no answer. Without a second thought he started to run out in the ocean – fully clothed but he didn't care. He swam out to as far out at sea as he could go. He ducked his head under the water and franticly searched around for her. He resurfaced and let out a sob. He ducked under again but all he could see was a blue blur. He came up again, needing air. "Shane! What the hell are you doing?!" He heard Nate yell from the shore. He just continued to sob in the middle of the ocean. "She's gone." He cried out.

"What?!"

Shane began to shiver and cry continuously the waves crashing against him. "It's too late."

"But we can't, it's too late."

Review!

Sorry if it sucked.

Epilogue coming soon.

Song: Topics - Nevertheless