View source for Silhouette

= Silhouette@ChampionsRPer =
" Mom and Dad met in Sydney. That's how they named me.<br>
Dad tells it the best. He always makes that night sound so romantic.<br>
Mom just called it a hookup. But that's when they made me.<br>
Dad said it was love at first sight. Mom kept in touch.<br>
She finds out the news the next month. She calls dad.<br>
Dad's shocked. Thrilled even. Mom, not so much.<br>
She's focused on her career. She wants an abortion.<br>
They meet and talk it out. They decide they have time to think it over.<br>
They go on a few more dates, and begin to fall in love.<br>
A few months later and things are getting serious.<br>
They talk again about whether they want to start a family.<br>
Mom is apprehensive. She still wants to wait.<br>
Dad convinces her a month later when he proposes to her in Paris.<br>
They move in together and begin to settle down.<br>
A few months later and I'm born. "

" The post-partum depression hit Mom hard.<br>
I've overheard them fighting about it before.<br>
Mom said she regretted giving up everything. She called us mistakes.<br>
I still don't know if she really meant it or not. I hope she didn't.<br>
Mom has an episode. She's diagnosed with bipolar disorder.<br>
Mom stayed at the hospital for a while. Dad tries to explain it to me.<br>
We'd come and visit when she was having a good day.<br>
Some days we'd have to leave early. "

" I'm 13 years old. I was a late bloomer.<br>
I start hearing voices at night. Again.<br>
When I was younger, I was always afraid of the dark and the monster in the closet.<br>
I told Dad I could hear them. He said it was just my imagination.<br>
There's no monsters in the closet, he'd tell me. Just shadows.<br>
He'd teach me shadow puppets over my nightlight to help me sleep.<br>
He said they'd protect me from the monster. They made me feel brave.<br>
But now, I hear it again. I pretend I can't. "

" I'm 14. They said Mom's getting better and she can come home soon.<br>
I start seeing things in the dark. I wonder if I'm crazy too.<br>
I had a bad day at school. I got my first period in the middle of gym class.<br>
I've never been more embarrassed in my life. I wanted to bleed out and die.<br>
That was the night I got my powers. The night the monster came out of the closet. "

" I don't know how to describe it other than fear itself.<br>
I've had night terrors before, but this one was real.<br>
I scream. Mom was the first to rush into the room.<br>
It attacks her. She doesn't make it...<br>
Dad runs in a moment later.<br>
He catches a glimpse of the monster just as he flips on the light. It vanishes.<br>
We're both in shock. There's blood everywhere.<br>
I don't remember much after that. "

" I'm sitting wrapped in a blanket in the back of an ambulance.<br>
A friendly cop handed me a cup of hot cocoa.<br>
I feel the warmth in my ice cold hands, but I'm still too stunned to drink.<br>
Dad is talking with the police. There's shouting. They think he did it.<br>
They found no evidence though. It was declared a suicide, because of her history.<br>
We both knew that wasn't the truth, but no one would ever believe us.<br>
Dad took some time off work. He said he was looking for answers.<br>
I finally tell him about the voices. I break down crying. I tell him it was all my fault.<br>
He comforts and reassures me. He's always been good at that. I still don't sleep much. "

" We're contacted by a group called MIND Inc. They say the can help.<br>
Dad is cautious, but we don't see any other options.<br>
They run some tests. I hate needles, and their big loud sci-fi machines. But we get an answer.<br>
They called it Umbrakinesis. Shadow-control. I didn't feel in control.<br>
They say they can teach me. So we move to Millennium City. "

" I'm 16, and I'm finally getting better.<br>
I meditate in the dark to overcome my fear.<br>
I use the shadow puppets Dad taught me to control my powers.<br>
I still hear the monster sometimes, but I'm better at blocking it out.<br>
Dad jokes that I might even be a superhero some day.<br>
The news comes out about MIND Inc being a front for PSI.<br>
Dad was right. We were lucky we got away. "

" Now, I'm 17, and I've gotten pretty good with my powers.<br>
I had to register with the ASPRA after PSI was uncovered.<br>
They gave me a psych eval to make sure I wasn't hypnotized or anything.<br>
My therapist was really nice. I still see her every other week.<br>
We talk about mom. About my powers.<br>
I called them a curse. She calls them a gift.<br>
She thinks I can do good with them. I hope so.<br>
I start thinking about superhero names. I doodle costume ideas in my journal.<br>
Dad surprises me with a costume for my birthday.<br>
He said it was for when I turn 18, but he couldn't wait.<br>
We go back to the ASPRA and I register under the alias, Silhouette. "

" Dad got hurt at work. He'll be okay, but he's retiring early.
He wants to move back home. I know its been hard for him here.
He wants me to come with, but... I can't go back.
It still hurts too much. I tell him I'm staying.
I'm 21, I'll be fine living on my own now.
I'm a superhero, I can take care of myself.
I promise to call him every week. I still see my therapist too. "

" I've been custom tailoring stuff I find at thrift stores.
I've gotten pretty good at it from patching up my costume.
I get a lot of compliments and questions where I got them.
So I'm starting an Etsy shop online to help make some extra money.
The hero gig is going okay, but it doesn't pay much. Still, I do what I can. "

" My therapist retired a few months ago. I'm not doing okay.
She left some recommendations, but none of them have worked out so far.
She said I need to get out more. It's still hard.
I haven't had an episode since I was 17, but the nightmares are back.
I checked myself into a hospital for a bit until they went away again.
I'm on meds now, but I'm not sure if they're helping or delaying.
Deep down, I know they won't stop until I can face it. The monster.
I just need to get stronger. Strong enough to fight it.
Or die trying... Either way."