Mom's acting strange

Rachel says "Mom? I thought you were dead… and why are you here… I don't understand"

Her mom gives Rachel a wry smile.

"Hey honey"

She heads into the living room as Rachel follows her. She sits down and folds her hands.

Rachel says "How are you alive?"

Her mom closes her eyes and spreads her arms.

"I don't know, but I am"

She opens her eyes and smiles at you.

Rachel says "How did you even get here?"

Rachel's mom stands up

"I'm going to make us something to eat, do you want something?"

"No"

She begins cooking with ease.

Rachel is happy but confused about her mom's return.

"Mom!"

"Hm?"

"Is this real?"

Rachel's mom nods and smiles at you.

"Yes, it's real"

Rachel notices something is different about her mom

Rachel leaves the kitchen and heads down the stairs.

Rachel heads into the living room to find John sitting in a chair. He looks up at Rachel as she enters.

"Hey," he says

Rachel says "There's something strange about mom plus she just appeared from nowhere."

John doesn't seem surprised. He frowns and thinks for a moment.

"I know!"

He leaps up and heads to the front door. Rachel follows him outside into the backyard.

"Well…?"

John looks at Rachel nervously "I bumped into her when I went for my walk. I invited her home, where she belongs"

He stares up at the sky and thinks some more before continuing.

"The World works in mysterious ways."

Rachel says "I don't know, something seems strange about this"

Rachel's dad nods

"Yeah, I thought so too, but what do we have to lose."

Rachel heads back into the kitchen and finds her mom standing by the stove.

"Can I help?"

"You seem different " Rachel states

Her mom gives Rachel a wry smile "I probably do"

She heads to the counter and begins cutting up some fruit for a fruit salad. She seems to know exactly what she's doing.

Rachel say "There's something strange about you"

Rachel's mom laughs "I don't know what you mean, I'm just me"

She begins laying out the fruit on some plates.

Rachels say "you still haven't explained how you are alive"

Her mom turns to Rachel and frowns.

"It's a long story, but I guess the good world wasn't ready to take me just yet"

Rachel says "Tell me what happened "

Her mom stands motionless as she finishes cutting up the fruit. She stares at the kitchen table as she begins her story.

"You know how the creatures killed off so many people?"

Rachel nods as she takes a bite of her fruit salad.

"Well, when I was sent to the hospital, they couldn't do anything for me. I was dying. But I wasn't dead yet. The doctors put me into a medically cold state"

Rachel tilts her head in confusion. What she's saying doesn't make sense.

"They tried to bring me back, but it didn't work. The creature's damage had already destroyed my body. every organ in my body shut down until my whole body was like... stone"

She says the last part with her arms spread wide.

"I was just a statue until the world took mercy on me and granted my dying wish"

Rachel tries to comprehend what her mom is saying.

"I wished to come back to life and be with my family again, and the world granted that wish. But now I'm sick, I'm suffering and I've very ill"

Rachel says "You are sick?"

Rachel's mom nods her head with a sad look in her eyes.

Rachel says "Will you be okay?"

Rachel's mom smiles

"As long as the world keeps me here with you and my family, I'll be fine. I just want to be with you guys"

A tear runs down her face.

Rachel says "Well, okay mom"

Her mom, Laura, looks up at her and smiles.

"Thanks, honey"

She walks past Rachael into the foyer. She notices her pace a little more than normal. She seems off.

Rachel says "Dad?"

John sits at his desk reading a book.

Rachel says "I need to talk to you dad"

John looks up and sighs. "What is it?"

She takes a deep breath and explains everything she's just talked to Laura about. He listens to her in silence.

Rachel says "Listen I think something really strange is going on. After all, these years mom just turns up out of nowhere. "

John nods "Exactly. I think there's something more going on here. But the important thing is she's back, and that's a happy ending isn't it?"

Rachel says "What if it isn't? Maybe..."

John raises his hand to silence her

Rachel says "Dad please, something doesn't feel right about this "

John gives her a stern look

Rachel says "Think about it "

She gets the impression he wants to think about it for days on end, but in reality, he'll make his own conclusions and do whatever he thinks is best.

Rachel says "I'll be in my room but please dad just think about what I said"

John sighs and nods. She walks past him and heads upstairs

Rachel walks into her room and slams the door shut.