"Father?"
Adelheid's heart pounded as she saw the figure on the bed.
"No-no Adelheid, this is not real..." She closed her eyes and convinced herself.
She had to be dreaming because there was no way her father who had died 11 years ago would suddenly resurrect and be in his chamber, lying on the bed.
"H-Heidi?" The figure groaned with a cracking voice. It was as though calling her name brought pain.
Adelheid walked to the bed and slowly moved her hand to touch the figure. Her hand finally landed on the figure's arm and she squeezed it. This was real. This all was real...her father was actually alive.
"I'm so glad they didn't take you away just like they took your mother..."
"What do you mean by 'they'? Who are those people? How is it that you didn't die and I'm not aware? Have you been in this room all these years?" Adelheid wasted no time in firing questions.
Her father opened his mouth to speak....