From the Diary of Sophie Woodbury-Noble:
Dear Diary, I write to you with tears in my eyes as I think about how this generation went. The generation that should have been Gigi’s. If only Gigi hadn’t died. Think of all the possibilities that Amy could have had. Think of what my own life would have become. Who could I have become? And now what?
My heart heaved in my chest as I wondered for the umpteenth time why I didn’t get Gigi away from Laris? Surely, there was more I could have done. At the time, I thought I was giving Gigi my all, but it wasn’t enough. Why wasn’t it enough to get her out of there? I should have tried harder. Then she could have raised Amy herself. I’m as certain as I always have been that I could have done more.
Yet at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel relief that that part of my life was over.
My blood ran cold in my veins, and I could scarcely breathe.
I couldn’t stop rereading what I’d just written. Because if Gigi had lived, we might still be in Midnight Hollow and that was unacceptable. I’d rescued Amy from that awful place and had given her the best life I could.
With all my heart, I missed my sister. Not a day went by, even now after all these years, when I didn’t think of her and her beautiful smile. But her mind hadn’t been right, not since she met Laris. Even if we were still in Midnight Hollow, and Gigi was alive, I would have been the one raising Amy. I was certain of it. No matter what I did, I could not save her.
Amy was eighteen today, and although I’d made many mistakes, she was safe and happy. Right?
Right?
Yet I was right back where this all started. We’ve come full circle and Amy was an adult now, and I had no control over the situation at all.
But who was I kidding? The celebration had started and everyone was smiling without what seemed a care in the world, as if Gerrard and his stupid council weren’t still a danger.
When Gil asked where their grandfather was, no one said anything when I told him Gerrard hadn’t been invited.
I’d been hyper-alert since Amy finally came home to stay and there was no way Gerrard would get his claws into Amy again.
I was so deep in my thoughts, I almost missed Amy’s caking. She blew out the candles…
… and transformed into the young adult I knew she’d become.
Sadly, Harlow and Tom were missing from the birthday party, so even though Amy had said nothing about them, it was clear there were still problems. I hoped she and Harlow especially would work out their friendship.
Jude Dempsey was the only friend who came. He was also eighteen now.
“Are you gonna eat that?” Gil asked, pointing at the piece of cake in my hand.
That’s when I realized how long I’d been standing there like an idiot in front of the cake, blocking everyone else from getting their slice.
I turned to my son and put the plate I was holding in his hands. “No, take this one.”
He happily obeyed and practically ran to the table to dig in. He always thought with his stomach. I reckoned he was just like his father that way.
The doorbell rang, and the hair on my nape prickled. Even before I opened the door, I knew who it was.
“What are you doing here?”
He could have pushed past me, but instead, he stayed outside.
“How could you exclude me from my granddaughter’s birthday party?”
“It was quite easy, actually. Besides, you’re not even really her grandfather. You’re nothing to her.”
His back bristled, and he stood even straighter than he usually did, if that were possible.
“I am sure if you asked Amelie, she would not be so cold toward me. You’re not really her mother, yet she still treats you as if you are.”
“Well, at least I’m her aunt, so there is a blood relation. You know what? I don’t have to explain anything to you because you don’t matter. I only wish this had happened sooner.”
“Do you?” he asked. There was some kind of amusement behind his voice and expression, as if he knew something I didn’t. “If this had happened sooner, dear Sophie, Amy would have shown her powers at a much earlier age. You would have been presented with a situation in which she wouldn’t have been able to control those powers as easily as she can now. You would have been left with a decision… Send Amy somewhere where she couldn’t accidentally hurt someone? Or keep her home where she may hurt you, or your son or husband. You needed me and I fulfilled those needs. You can’t just push me aside.”
So he thought I owed him something. He had a point, I guess, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Watch me,” I said.
Shutting the door in his face was the most satisfaction I’d felt in a long time.
From the Diary of Amy Noble
Dear Diary, as I stare up at the nighttime sky, I wonder what it is I’m supposed to do with my life. My grandfather says my destiny is in Midnight Hollow, where I am to be crowned queen.
My mom wants me by her side, but to do what? To become what? There isn’t a plan there at all.
Closing my eyes, I kicked off my shoes. The sand from the beach was damp and cold, but it felt good between my toes.
It was then I felt the power in me, just the smallest of whispers at first, gently rising higher and higher, boiling my blood, turning into a fever that wanted to rage outside of me. I paced, willing the power to subside.
A struggle ensued with no amount of pacing that would calm it or make it go away completely. In the end, I did not let it rise to the surface, but I felt in my soul, it would be back soon. Who knew what would happen the next time, then the time after that?
I didn’t like the feeling of holding back, it was nauseating. But I understood it was necessary and did it anyway.
How could I live the rest of my life, holding back my true self, feeling miserable and sick?
From the Diary of Sophie Woodbury-Noble:
Dear Diary, I’d just finished cleaning up the kitchen when I saw a light in the living room. I wiped my hands on a towel, then went to see who was still up at this late hour.
Amy was sitting on the couch, her face buried in her hands, crying.
I sat next to her and put my arm around her, pulling her in alongside me. “Shh shh,” I said as I took her hand, squeezing it. “What’s wrong, sweetie? Is this about Harlow?”
“Only a little,” she sobbed.
We sat like that, so long in silence, I didn’t think she would tell me what the matter was.
But finally, she let it spill out of her.
“I want to use my magic, but I don’t know how.”
With a furrowed brow, I said, “I thought you said you had it under control?”
She nodded, still crying, still hiding her face, and holding my hand.
“It’s under control, but it makes me physically sick to hold it back. Why can’t I just be who I am? It’s as much a part of me as it is to be gay.”
This didn’t sound good at all.
“Perhaps, after a time, it won’t feel like that any longer.”
She shook her head vehemently. “No, this is how it is. I can feel it, and I can’t go on like this.”
My heart stopped as alarm took my breath away.
“What does that mean, exactly?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t imagine living my whole life like this. It won’t work.”
“Oh, honey, we’ll figure it out. I promise.”
It was then that she said the words I was dreading.
“You can’t promise that.” And then she stood up. “I’m going to bed.”
My eyes trailed every step she took as she left the room. I heard the stairs creaking as she went up, then I heard her bedroom door close.
Holding a hand to my heart, I knew I would not sleep that night.
From the Diary of Amy Noble
Dear Diary, I couldn’t sleep to save my life. I don’t know how long I tossed and turned before there was a quiet knock at my bedroom door. Flinging my covers back, I got up and crossed the room.
It was Gil!
I was surprised because other than some brief moments, I hadn’t really connected with him much since he became a teen. Now, he stood there with worry behind his eyes.
“Come in.”
After he entered, I shut the door behind him so we wouldn’t have parents listening in on us.
“What’s up?” I asked as he plopped down on my beanbag chair.
He hesitated, then finally said, “I can tell things aren’t easy for you right now and I wondered if there was anything I could do.”
My heart melted, and I started crying all over again. How did I deserve such a well-intentioned sibling? Of course, there was nothing he could do except listen. But with every passing revelation, I could tell he was more and more worried.
“You have to leave here,” he insisted.
My right eyebrow went up. “And I thought you loved having me back.”
He laughed a little, then said, “It’s your only choice as far as I can tell. If you stay here, you might get really sick suppressing all that. Plus, you’ll have to contend with Mom and Grandfather arguing all the time. I’m so over all that. You need to go somewhere where you’re all alone and can let loose with your powers if you need to.”
“Like a deserted island?” I joked, shrugging my shoulders. His solution seemed an unlikely one.
“I’m serious, Sis. You need to like… I don’t know… climb a mountain and be by yourself until you figure this all out.”
Maybe he was right. It was worth a shot.
“Just where are you going at this hour?”
Caught again! How did this woman sense my every move?
I let my backpack slide to the floor as I turned around to face her.
“I’m not sure yet, but I have to go.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“Maybe I am, I don’t know. What I do understand is that I cannot stay here with the pressure from you and Grandfather, and with what Harlow did, too. I have to get out of here and you’re gonna have to understand that.”
“Understand that? That’s what you want from me after I just caught you sneaking out and you don’t even know where you’re going? What about your father and brother? No goodbyes for them, either?”
“I’m sorry, Mom. You can think I’m irresponsible if you want, but this power is pulling on me and I can’t figure out what I need to, staying here.”
I could tell she wanted to argue with me because her mouth opened, and her eyes were narrow. But she ended up standing down. Her shoulders slumped forward, and she shook her head as if in defeat.
Then she strode across the room, pulling me into her arms so fast my head reeled.
“I love you, Amy, don’t ever forget that.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, and a lump filled my throat. “I know, you do. I love you, too.”
She pulled away, drying her eyes on the sleeve of her robe. Then she said, “Hang on, I have something for you.”
She ran upstairs, but she was only gone for a minute. When she came downstairs, I saw she had a flash drive in her hand. She tucked it into my bag, then took my hand.
“I had our family diaries converted over because they were getting bulky. I have the real ones upstairs, ready for you when you can handle them. But I figure you’ll need to read these while you travel.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said, with tears in my eyes.
Then she pulled a credit card out of her robe pocket. “I, uh, brought this down here for you, too. Take it and use it on whatever you need.”
“Thank you.” My voice was a whisper by then, as the lump in my throat had grown two times bigger than before.
I wasn’t mistaking her generosity for acceptance of what I was doing, but she loved me and wanted me to stay safe.
As the cool night air hit me, I shivered but moved forward, sure of what I must do.
From the Diary of Amy Noble
In the stable, I cried as I brushed Duchess one last time. Gil had agreed to take care of her, and I knew she’d be in good hands. But I would miss her so much.
Then I hugged her tight and thanked her for all our happy times together, knowing in my heart I’d never see her or anyone on this island again.
Special thanks to Bee (Stories by Bee / Poses by Bee) for the poses used in this chapter: Convo/Emotion Poses – Set 2 and Sad Couple.
Well, it was lengthy, but we got there! Instead of taking next Saturday off as I normally would between generations, Chapter 10.1 will be posted next week. Noble Doubt is soon coming to a close after six years and 10 generations!
Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting!
Other Credits:
World: Winchester Farming Community
Lot: Woodland Cottage
Discover more from Kymber @booomcha.com
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She does need some space. With so much tension, things will only be harder for her.
Yes, I think you’re definitely right about that.
Congratulations on finishing Gen 9, Kymber! This was an awesome generation. I really liked how this ended, that Sophie decided to support Amy leaving even though she didn’t accept it. She’s made many mistakes but in the end, she’s been a good mother. Excited to see what Amy will do on her own without the restrictions/influences!
Thank you so much, Lila. 🙂 I like what you said about Sophie. She really did do her best, and although she made mistakes, she always tried to do the right thing.
Wow! It’s amazing how comforting and supportive siblings can be.
Thank you, Jo. That is for sure. 🙂
Sophie still gets on my nerves, but I’m glad she understood she couldn’t keep Amy home.
Yeah, I think she gave up once she realized it was out of her control.
Thank you for sharing!!.. believe Amy is right in leaving for now, learn more about herself and life and in time be able to better deal with everyone, especially the likes of Grandfather and Gerrard… and leaving under these circumstances with Sophie’s support is a good thing because Amy may return from time to time as she is not exactly running away, just leaving the nest like every young sparrow…. 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again..
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
(Irish Saying)
Thank you, Dutch. I’m glad you agree with Amy’s decision. You’re right about how she’s really only leaving like a young sparrow. I hope all is well with you. 🙂
“There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, people we can’t live without but have to let go.” (Nancy Stephan)… 🙂
Thank you so much. That’s so true. 🙂
A lot in this excerpt. What a gorgeous horse.
Thank you, Jacqui. 😀 She is such a good friend to Amy.
Six years and 10 generations! Wow! That’s fantastic, Kymber. Loved this episode and look forward to 10.1 😁 Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week. Hugs 💕🙂
Thank you, Harmony! ❤ It’s been a rollercoaster. lol I’m glad you enjoyed the episode. 😀 You have a wonderful week, too. Hugs. ❤
What an emotional birthday! I hope some space will bring Amy some clarity. Her mom is supportive. Now to see what her grandfather thinks about it. A great episode, Kymber.
Thank you, Diana. An emotional birthday was right! Gerrard is not likely to let Amy go so easily. lol I’m so glad you liked this episode. 🙂
I didn’t think he was going to give up. That would be too easy. And I think he has her best interests at heart, just like Sophie does, even though they want different things.
Those are great points! I like that you brought that up. 🙂
I don’t know if it’s true. Lol. Just my thoughts.
I’m kind of a… what’s the word? Pantser? That sounds so weird. So, anyway, your guess is as good as mine. LOL 🤣
🙂
Jowita, I’m sure you don’t mean for this comment to be unkind, but unfortunately under the circumstances, it turns out it feels that way. This is your second comment with this statement. I bit my tongue then, I’m not now. I believe you have forgotten in the past two years, Kymber has had some major overwhelming life events. In the first year, she supported her own daughter as she struggled to stay alive with cancer, all while also being pregnant, Kymber continued with this story…because she didn’t want to let the readers down! I worked harder on the story doing more than I normally do during this time to help get a chapter out each week. When her mother almost died in April 2022, she was determined to keep going. But I would not let her. So yes there is a gap from April to September and I know she wasn’t even sure she wanted to come back when her mother was stable and doing well. But once again she didn’t want to let her readers down. Yes she struggled with finding the flow again, but I think she did such a good job. I know I am grateful she has carried on and I would bet the rest of her readers are as well.
I did stress in my earlier comment that absolutely I understand why Kymber took a longer break and I don’t blame it on her. I feel like the story did turn out great after all, too, of course! I just am very glad that she’s starting a new gen because I feel like that’s what she needed to do to finally move on from this new one, and that’s just what I wanted to express. I admire Kymber greatly for her strong will to come back to the story after all! I’m just relieved for her, too, that she won’t have to live with the same plot stuck in her for longer now that she can finally focus on writing again. I am sure it must be very tedious not being able to fulfill her ideas. It was definitely not meant to shame Kymber for what happened to her and for what she struggled with in the past. I do think that my problems are not the break exactly, it has with the character. And that’s not Kymber’s fault at all, she’s writing the character of Sophie, I think, true to the character’s nature. She just evolved, which is perfectly acceptable, considering her age.
I’m sorry if any of it came out unkind, it was never my intention. I just wanted to express how I’m glad for Kymber and the readers to be moving on to the final gen, which was what we have all been waiting for! I’m sure that’s a huge relief for Kymber, seeing how she kept trying to continue for all this time.
Of course I wish her, and you, the best! I’m just glad to see you both on WP so many years later! ❤️
This is amazing! I’m so glad Amy’s getting some space to figure out who she is and what she wants. It’s not easy, but I’m glad Sophie stood down this time. <3
I’m so glad you liked this. 😀 You’re right about that not being easy, but you’re also right that Sophie stepped down at the right time. ❤
Wow! This is exciting! I wish she could take Duchess with her, but maybe she can join her eventually, once she’s settled. How many chapters do you have planned for gen 10?
Thank you so much, Cathy. I wish she could have taken Duchess with her, she really could use a friend right now.
I’m not sure yet how many chapters I’ll be doing, but it won’t be the entire 30 chapters I usually do.
I can’t believe we’ve finally reached the end of gen 9. I just checked and apparently, the first post came out on August 14, 2021! That’s over a year! Wow… Please don’t take it the wrong way, but I just can’t relate as strongly to a storyline that’s been dragging out for this long. It’s almost like when you watch a TV series and a new season comes out a year or two after. I just can’t be as engaged, and I think it’s just the way we operate, with the way our dopamine system has been going crazier with instant social media and the like gratification. So, I have to say, Sophie’s been annoying me lately… At the beginning of ‘her’ gen, that is a couple chapters in, when she took over from Gigi, I felt for her and how she had to grow up early and step up to be a mom to Amy. I also related to her when Gigi was still alive and she couldn’t figure out the cause for her strange behavior. But then when you came back to write as her again and she started being overtly worried about Amy and really just being an overprotective mom (which, I guess, is understandable since she plays a role of her mom, but I think it was an overreaction from her as a parent of an almost-adult child), it started being too much after a couple chapters and I honestly waited for her to stop writing… I’m sorry it sounds so harsh! It’s never to take away from your talent, I think you found her voice as a worried mom and a sort of supernatural skeptic (I think it’s a trait in TS3 that would describe her well, not as in, she doesn’t believe, but she’s strongly against because of what happened to Gigi), it’s just not that great to read for long.
So, tl;dr: the combination of the gen dragging out and Sophie’s narration made me really look forward to the end. Amy came as a much needed refreshment to me!
And wow, already to an interesting start… Moving away like Blue did! I do wonder about the ominous lines you’ve thrown at the end of her never seeing those people again – will we not see Sophie and Seb again? You’ve said something similar about cutting ties in your comment to me yesterday… Can’t say I would be that bothered, LOL. I really am cruel to those characters at this point, and it’s not their fault even. Wow, come to think of it, I can’t imagine how tedious it must be to see my posts THREE years after I finished the story. I should stop spamming y’all, haha.
I just wanted to mention how I love that line about her staring with a plate of cake in her hand and blocking others. Love how you used the classic TS3 bug in your narration! And the photo of her staring in the light with Gerrard completely dark is my favorite, especially with her saying she knew who it was and us not seeing who it is right away.
Soo, we’re getting an Amy post next week. I really can’t wait to see what she’s up to! Have you decided yet on the length of this gen? I think you mentioned a couple times that you want it to be shorter than the standard 30 chapters.
And here I am after saying I can’t express myself, well, hahaha. Please don’t take this as a hate comment, I got a little carried away, but I always love your story. And I can’t wait to see the grand finale! <3
I can’t believe we’ve finally reached the end of this gen, too. I have been thinking about Blue a lot and how she ran away. She and Amy both had no specific plans except that Blue knew she needed to find the mystery note writer.
I’m so glad you liked that pic. I spun that camera around them so many times before finally getting a shot I liked. I’m not someone who takes tons of pictures because I’m playing the game. Posing the sims is just to make sure I have them in the moment. I’m so lucky Bee has made so many poses. lol
I’m having new appliances installed this week for my kitchen remodel, so I expect it to be a crazy week, but still, I am going to have 10.1 out if it kills me. lol
The grand finale is coming up, but I’m not sure how many chapters I’m actually doing yet.
I am so glad that you finally got to finish this gen. It’s very emotional that Noble Doubt is nearing its end ❤️ I can’t believe it’s been almost 7 years already. I think Amy and Blue have something in common with how they have both run away, although Amy at least said her goodbyes.
I did a similar pic when Sam met Gemma to drop newborn Hailey, though it was Gemma inside that was in the dark. Bee’s poses are absolutely the best!
Good luck with rearranging your kitchen! Don’t stress yourself over this new gen. But I am very curious to see what you come up with.
Don’t worry, its absolutely understandable that you’re not sure yet. I was just curious.
I’m very curious to see what I come up with, too. 🤣
I see that similarity with Blue and Amy, too. But you’re right, Amy said her goodbyes at least.
When I started ND, I didn’t realize it would take 7 years, or almost that to complete. lol I intended from the beginning on doing 10 gens, but I hadn’t thought that out. lol
That’s cool about your similar pic. I like how the pics can say so much, or even hide identities.
Thank you in regards to the kitchen. I’m about ready to have a nervous breakdown over it. LOL I was thinking I might share pics on here of the before and after. I’ll see how it goes.
I’m in tears! I haven’t cried this much since…. Well…. I feel like it’s been since Jilly died. That chapter always breaks me. I hope Amy finds somewhere safe, like Blue did. Maybe she’ll even find her ‘Matthieu’ or a woman who will love her as she is. I hope her powers don’t overtake her to the point of her distruction.
Awwww I’m sorry I made you cry. This reminds me a bit of Blue, too, now that you mention it. She’s not looking for love, but sometimes that’s exactly when it happens, so you never know. 🙂
On her terms.
I do hope she lands someplace where she can learn that she’ll have more control from calm; and more strength through love.
Exactly, Mama Dragon. I think this is just what she needed.
Magnificent ✍️ and awesome images.
Thank you so much, Tangie! ❤️