This latest trip to China has easily been Hope’s favorite one to date.   The timing of this trip had been absolutely perfect. Her father’s return home provided enough excitement to shoot her through the stratosphere. But it was the discussion about plans for the new estate that truly sent her into the next gear. Her brain had become such a crisscross of over-stimulation, that Hope was having difficulty focusing on anything. Her grandparents, too, were overwhelmed at first by the stream of consciousness spilling from her. And after considerable effort on the part of her grandfather, it turned out that martial arts was not … Continue reading Chapter 4.16 – Confidence

Mark sits alone at the park while Mei works her shift at the police station.   After quitting his job as an international undercover intelligence agent, he has little else to do. Although he has finally made it home, he feels as though he has jumped from one raging, whitewater torrent into another. Time had not stood still while he was gone, and Sunset Valley feels like a completely different place as a result. There is no better evidence of this than from within his own family.  Hope has become a beautiful young woman, and Dara threatens to be just as gorgeous as both her sister and … Continue reading Chapter 4.15 – Fortune

She was still a child the last time Hope saw her father.   — She had never doubted once that he would return safely. But it is quite clear that her confidence had not been shared with the other members of her household.  Even her mother, who had held out longer than anybody else, eventually gave up believing that he would return.  Added to that, is the lingering anger over the fact that Mark had put his job ahead of family. But the relief and joy of knowing he is alive and back in Sunset Valley outweighs any other emotion, and the spectre that has haunted the Barimen … Continue reading Chapter 4.14 – Wounds

Grandpa David’s death had come as a shock to everybody.   Hope had missed school the Friday following her birthday party, and had also slept through the small birthday celebration for both Mary and Elizabeth. He died that night before going to bed, soon after Elizabeth moved out.  Hope felt terrible. Not only had she lied to her grandfather, but she took advantage of his trust during the party. It is something she will never be able to apologize for. The weekend that follows seems like one of the worst of her life. She wants to talk to her mother about the party, but she … Continue reading Chapter 4.13 – Alive

They used to call him “Cabin Boy”.   He had been born in the tiny cabin that was built by one of Sunset Valley’s first settlers. It stood there, over time, among the massive mansions and seemingly limitless wealth; mostly hidden from sight by the growth of trees and underbrush which had overtaken it. Despite the opulence it was surrounded by, the tiny log cabin remained, sitting proudly upon a plot of dirt far more valuable than anything its neighbors could fathom.   David had tried so hard to learn for himself what it was, exactly, that made this land so important. There have … Continue reading Chapter 4.12 – Secret

Mark regards the girl who had been Rakim’s wife. He remembers everything.   He has no words to describe how he feels about the situation. He asks her about the papers and the picture he had been carrying. She quickly fetches them and silently hands them over to him. Mark sees that her hands are trembling. Though he has known the young woman intimately, he cannot bring himself to comfort her now. He simply nods to her and tells her that the nightmare is over.   His body is weak and skeletally thin from the withdrawal he had suffered. Realizing that he has not … Continue reading Chapter 4.11 – Insurgent

Rakim has been permitted to visit with family for a last time before his mission to martyrdom.   Having no remaining family of his own, he agrees to allow his wife to visit her parents in a nearby village. The dreams have been coming to him nightly now; dreams of being buried alive and clawing through the earth to find the surface. He gets very little sleep as a result. Rakim feels ill on the morning of the trip, and his stomach churns at the thought of eating. Although it is forbidden, he quietly gives his portion of the meal provided during training to another recruit. Then, … Continue reading Chapter 4.10 – Freedom

David cheers with excitement as his two youngest children prepare to celebrate their birthdays.   It has been a rather long and challenging journey through parenthood. Mary and Elizabeth came very late in his marriage, and he had been an elder through much of their lives. Mei has done more than any sim could ask in helping to raise them despite having two children of her own. Mei is conspicuously absent from the celebration, however. She has been avoiding just about everybody since Hope’s birthday.   Hope is also missing from the celebration, but for a different reason entirely. She was … Continue reading Chapter 4.9 – Enigma

Hope makes her birthday wish (a huge hug from her father), and takes the leap into becoming a teen.    —    —   The birthday party, as expected, is massive. Hope feels pumped to have so many people around her; having fun, dancing, going crazy. It’s almost like this is what she was born to do. Elizabeth seems perfectly content to join in, and they celebrate the night away with friends of all ages. Michael has found his way back to the house too. But this time he only has eyes for Hope, and she is more than happy to soak … Continue reading Chapter 4.8 – Drunk

His name is Rakim Hasan.   He comes from a small tribe in the mountains and had raised goats until five years ago. He had been given a blessed vision, instructing him to join the holy fight against the infidels and unbelievers. And so now he trains for the glorious day when he will do his part to erase the evil that has spread across the world, and join the proud ranks of those martyred before him.   His name is Mark Barimen. He has been deep undercover for five years in pursuit of Ali Zalne. He will stop at nothing … Continue reading Chapter 4.7 – Brainwashing

Mei’s continued resilience during Mark’s absence has astounded everyone. But cracks in the armor are slowly becoming evident.   When Dara celebrates her birthday into childhood, she asks the tough question about whether or not her daddy will ever be coming home. It is at that moment when Mei’s confidence finally shows some vulnerability. Her voice quivers as she tells Dara that she wishes the answer was yes. Dara is a lot like her mother in the fact that they both allow their worries to simmer quietly on the inside. And so the day begins to look more like a funeral than … Continue reading Chapter 4.6 – Wine

David Barimen has shed many tears during his lifetime.   But his face remains curiously dry, and his expression oddly blank. He hears the hushed comments from friends as he places a pair of perfect, pink roses on their destination gravestones; one each for Deirdre and Claire. David has exhausted his life’s allotment of grief, and now only feels the emptiness of having lost two more of his children. A warm breeze blows across the beach where the pastor has begun the funeral service. But David shivers. He has done this too many times. Deirdre and Claire; the two names … Continue reading Chapter 4.5 – Roses

After noticing that little Dara is far too complacent with sitting in front of the television, Mei has started taking her to the park every afternoon to enjoy the endless sunshine Sunset Valley has to offer.   The change of pace is good for them both. They play outside and sometimes read together, while waiting for Hope to be dismissed from school. Hope is absolutely, and without a doubt, her favorite sim. It is the highlight of Dara’s day to watch for her sister leaving school with Mary, Elizabeth, and all of the other big kids. Dara is right on cue, running to the … Continue reading Chapter 4.4 – Bruises

Hope is not accustomed to feelings of awkwardness in friendship.   Making friends has always come easily for her. Most of the time, she gets away with doing stuff at friends houses that other sims wouldn’t even dare trying. It’s just the kind of kid she is; sweet, lovable, and unassuming. From her perspective, she shouldn’t feel bad for wanting to visit a friend’s house, or even for showing up at the doorstep unannounced …it’s what normal friends do.   But Michael Nava is not a normal friend, at least not since the weird experience at his house a few … Continue reading Chapter 4.3 – Choices

Hope celebrates the end of another perfect day at school with a few minutes on the playground.   She is easily the most popular kid in school. Her overt friendliness has earned the approval of most everybody, even the older kids. It is her perpetually good mood that makes her such a magnet for friends. Even when she gets in trouble because of her talking, she accepts her consequences graciously and apologizes where necessary; never once holding a grudge. Just about every sim on campus can count her among their friends; with one intriguing exception.   Michael Nava, a new … Continue reading Chapter 4.2 – Project