The space between.

Episode 2" behind the shadows and reality'.

Lisa noticed a strange symbol beneath their feet. They seemed to pulse with a soft blue light ,guilding her deeper into the oasis.

Ella followed her gaze and nodded, " These symbols have been here for years, some say they held the secrets of the house" .

Lisa's curiosity was piqued. She knelt down to touch the symbols, feeling an energy coursing through her veins.

Suddenly the air around her drifted, the wind died down an eerie silence fell behind her and turned to see Davis standing at the entrance,his eyes fixed intently on hers. "Lisa,"I have been looking for you" he said,his voice low and urgent. We need to talk"

But before he could approach ,a figure emerged from the shadows behind him. it was Lisa's mother, her face pale and worned.

"Lisa, come inside ....now" she commanded , her voice firm but trembling.

Lisa hesistated , unsure of what to do, Davis eyes pleaded with her to stay, but her mom's grip on her arm was unyielding. Lisa tried to shake off her mother's grip , but it only tightened.

"Let me go, mother" she demanded , her voice rising. But her mother's eyes was filled with tears " No, Lisa you don't understand, it's not safe out here"

Davis stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger.

"What's going on, Miss Smith , why are you trying to keep Lisa away from me"

Lisa's mother turned to him, her voice dropping to a whisper.

" You're not who you say you are Davis.. You are dangerous to Lisa, to all of us "

Without hesitation, Lisa wrenched her arm free from her mother's grasp and sprinted towards Davis, Together they dashed through the garden , the symbols on the stone flashing like a neon path behind them.

As they walked through the garden, Lisa felt the familiar tug of of her bi- polar disorder, like a pendulum swinging widely between reality and madness. The maniac energy that had driven her to uncover secrets in the garden now crashed into a crushing depression, leaving her feeling lost and helpless.

But then, Ella's hand on her tightened, shaking her gently.

" Lisa ,snap out of it "

Ella said softly "come back to me" .

The sudden jolt broke the spell, distracting Lisa from the dark thoughts swirling in her head.

She blinked, focusing on Ella's concerned face.

Ella smiled and hugged her" That's why I always want to follow you, To bring you back to reality when you need it " .

Lisa smiled back, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Jane. Her friends timely intervention had nudged her off the trauma loop in her mind, giving her a chance to regroup and refocus.

But even as she walked beside Ella, Lisa knew that the darkness was still there, just lurking beneath the surface.

She could only hope to stay one step ahead of it with Ella's help.

Ella guided Lisa into her room own cozy bedroom, the soft glow of the single bulb overhead, casting a warm light.

Lisa's room was a reflection of her personality, with vibrant artwork and colourful scarves draped over the furniture.

Ella retrieved the medication from Lisa's night stand, the familiar rattle of pills in the bottle, a reminder of Lisa's ongoing struggle with bi- polar disorder.

As Lisa settled into bed, Ella pulled the blanket up to her chin, tucking her in with a gentle touch.

She then sat down beside her, taking Lisa's hand into hers.

' How are you feeling Lisa?" Ella asked softly, her co barely above a whisper. Lisa's eyes closed, her voice barely audible as she replied" Tired..... Overwhelmed" Ella squeezed her hand reassuringly , her presence a comfort constant in Lisa's chaotic world.

As the day for her father's campaign emerged,Lisa and her father walked into a big crowd of people. There were colourful signs flags everywhere.

People were talking and cheering loudly. Lisa felt overwhelmed.

Her father was smiling and shaking hands with people. He seemed happy and confident. But Lisa was feeling anxious. She held onto his arm tightly. Her mother didn't come along because she had a case to attend to at the court.

When they reached the stage, people started rushing around them. They were giving last minute instructions and adjustments.

Lisa's father nodded and looked out at the crowd.

Lisa felt like she was going to collapse. The lights, noise and cameras were too much for her.

she wanted to escape but her father held her close.

" just smile and wave" he whispered.

Lisa forced a smile unto her face, trying to hide her panic. She waved at the crowd , feeling like a puppet on strings. Her father's arm around her shoulders held her in place.

As they stepped up to the microphone, the noise level surged . Lisa's heart raced, her mind racing with worst case scenarios.

Her father began to speak, his voice booming through the plaza. Lisa's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for an escape route. But there was none.

Lisa's vision began to blur, the crowd spinning around her. She felt herself falling, her father's arm the only thing holding her up.

Just as Lisa thought she'd collapse, her father finished speaking and turned to her .

"And now,I'd like to introduce my wonderful daughter Lisa! he said , beaming with pride.

Lisa's heart sank. she didn't want to be introduced and also didn't want to be center of attention. But it was too late.

The crowd applauded, and Lisa's father pushed her forward, she stumbled, her leg tumbling beneath her.

Lisa's words trailed off as her vision began to blur. She felt herself swaying, her legs buckling beneath. The crowds faces became a distant him, their voices fading into the background.

She tried to reach out to her father's arm, but it was too late, Lisa's body went limp , and she crumpled to the stage floor.

They sat down to a quiet dinner at home, the tension between them palpable. Lisa's father pushed his food around his plate, his eyes fixed on the TV in the corner of the living room.

The news anchor's voice cut through the silence" And now, the moment we have been waiting for..... the result of the presidential election.

Lisa's father's eyes locked onto the screen, his face a mask of anxiety.

The anchor continued" In a surprise upset, Challenger John Wilson has taken the lead, winning the presidency by a narrow margin.

Lisa's father slumped back in his chair, his eyes dropping to the floor. Lisa reached out putting a hand on his arm.

"I'm sorry, Dad,"she said her voice barely above a whisper.

He looked up at her ,a mix of emotions on his face" it's okay Lisa, We will get through this, we will find a way"

The room fell silent again, the only sound was the quiet hum of the TV.

Lisa's father pushed his chair back, stood up and walked over to the window, staring out into the night.

Lisa's mother who had been observing the scene,got up from the chair and walked over to him.

"Honey, it's okay" she said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. " You did your best. That's all anyone can ask for"

Lisa's father turned to her, his eyes re-dimmed . " I did it for Lisa, he said. his voice cracking.

" I wanted to make a difference for her" Lisa's mother nodded" I know honey, And you did. you may not have won the election, but you have made a difference in so many other ways. Lisa who had been watching the exchange, stood up from her chair and walked over to her parents. " I feel like this is all my fault"

Lisa's father wrapped his arms around both of them, holding them close.