The cold water washed over Isabella’s palms as she rubbed them together. Her bracelets clashed into the edge of the sink and she paused for a moment to look at her reflection in the mirror above her. Her hair was tied in a bun—and she only just realized in that moment that she hated it. Quite frankly, she hated a lot of things about herself. Like her knobbly knees and her shot-out elbows. The dark circles carved beneath her eyes and the fact that she couldn’t for once get the perfect haircut—one that boldly said, Isabella Evans. Her frail hands fell to her stomach, she didn’t like that either for the many years after giving birth to the twins. But it was something she had gotten used to, she thought. Maybe because she got all the distractions in the world to stop her from over-stressing about her imperfect body. She looked into the mirror, tugging at her skin before her hands brought water to rinse her face and she heaved a deep sigh. The door opened behind her shortly after and
TEN MONTHS AGO.“What is this?” Leonard’s gaze fell to the gazette in his hands before matching up to his mother’s. She towered over his desk with the corner of her lips twitched with a smirk. He excused his guards and placing the papers down, he had only a vague idea what to make of it. Freya sat down with an accompanied lawyer. “Your father left you something” Her words pierced through his ear like his teeth into his fingernails. “Why would i ever want anything from that man?“ He asked and she pushed a hard lump down her throat. “Hear me out Leonardo” She pleaded.“It’s been six years and you’re only coming now with some bullshit two dollar asset” He cussed in a raucous tone and the lawyer felt the need to step forward. “This isn’t a two dollar asset, Mr Carter—your father couldn’t have overemphasized it more that you get it at thirty. He always said you’d know what to do” Harry reinstated and Leonardo scoffed with a jeering laugh.“Oh please. Mother.”“Listen to him” Freya urged.
Isabella charged through the emergency doors with a gasping breath, the sound of her heels against the floors echoing back a series of clinks and thuds.Her eyes were sore from the tears that fell from them and she held unto the bed on which Majorie was wheeled in.“Oh my God” She exclaimed. In her defense, the whole night had felt unreal—like a fever dream. And that image of standing over her aunt’s unconscious body was to haunt for days, and even weeks to come.“Somebody help!” She had shouted, just before a man came through the elevators. He tried resuscitating her aunt, starting heavy yet cautious chest compressions. “What happened?” The stranger asked, dialing 911 in the nick of time. Her eyes wavered from the tears that stung in them. “I don’t know” She sobbed.“I don’t know, i came home and the door was open and i tried looking for her. I was so confused, only for me to see her lying here—i have no idea what happened” More tears fell as a crack remained imminent in her voice.
"Here" Isabella leaned into her aunt, the pills rattled in her hands and from the plastic bottle, she removed a single one. Majorie faced the ceilings with barely opened eyes. She however managed to slip the pills through her chapped thin lips.Grabbing the cup of water, she gave her aunt and kept it all aside—Majorie was home now, after being discharged a week later. And Isa spent most of her days and nights by her side. In that moment that she choked, Bella smothered her lower back and both their eyes met. "Bella." She usually called with so much emotion and she pushed a lump down her throat."I'm here."Holding firm her hands, Isa brought her head to lean into hers. "I am here ma" There was a subtle crack in her voice but she didn't let go until Majorie was asleep again, which was in few minutes—it was all she did now. And towering over her, tears filled Isa's eyes.She couldn't bear this.She couldn't bear to see her aunt this way. It was as if she was good one moment and her who
Arlington Heights, Chicago.Their sweaty bodies grazed each other as his hands swept behind his neck. She drew close to him, resting her head upon his hairless chest. She could hear his pulsating heart in rhythm with the rising and falling for his chest and she let out an exasperating sigh."That was good" Kayla heaved, a second later trailing along the ends of his skin with her fingers and Colton looked to his wife, a ray of sunlight across half his face. His other hand went through her hair as he smirked. Her cheeks were flustered and her feeble hands grew weaker.He sat up, and so did she.The incandescent morning sun beamed against the window blinds. He leaned forward, reaching for his underwear and she turned on the lights. "I called the foster care, Colton" Her voice was dim as he cleared his throat. "Hmm" Without any wording in reply."They said we could come down any day now"Colton stood, swiping a strand of hair behind his ear. He hurriedly wore on his shirt and Kayla didn't
"Cheerios" "Emily hates Cheerios and if you give her that, she's probably going to throw up. Ryan loves them and you could probably give him that. Oh and their room—" Isabella sauntered back from the front door, her bags hanging loose from her shoulders.Joan gripped her hands, holding her back."Clean the room and leave every single toy the way it was because Emily has an OCD" Joan gritted through her teeth as she pulled unto her. "You've already said that before, like a million times. Everything's going to be fine" She added and Isa heaved a deep breath, turning back to Holly."And if anything happens, the bar is just a few blocks from here""Or you can call me" Isa pointed at the new babysitter. "You should call me." She nodded and Joan chuckled softly. "You should go to work, that's what you should do. Everything's under control" Joan continued and Isa held her bag closer."Right?""Right" Holly muttered, pushing a lump down her throat. She looked down at Ryan who sleepily clung
“Mommy.“The shrill voice of a girl braced the phone in her hands and the echo rang through Isabella’s ears. “Emily” She blurted her daughter’s name from her lips, recognizing the anxiety in the tone of her voice. “Emily are you okay?”There was a loud thud that banged in the background and Isa sniffled, wiping her tears. She jerked forward off the door. “Hello” Isa yelled over the line that had gone static before cutting off.Her heart began to stomp like it was six years ago again. Her child was troubled, and without a second thought, she went after her. A straight cab from the entrance of Marriott took her to the front of her apartment building. And Isabella leaped past the stairs, a faster alternative than the elevators and finally she made her way to the front of her door.Banging it, it was only a second until Holly pulled it open.“Emily” She charged in, only to be met a tight hug around her knees. “Are you okay?” Her eyes moistened as she lifted her in her hands. “Are you oka
"I gave you one simple instruction, Isabella" His voice raged through the room as he held up his large hands to her face. She shrieked in the corner, holding her knees to the bottom of her chin. "Please" She muttered, half her face covered in his saliva and bruise marks."What more do you want from me?" He yelled."I gave you everything, but it's not enough right. You just want him" Isabella couldn't bear to look into his eyes that night and when she muttered a plea for the second time, he dashed his hands across her face. She screamed in pain, helpless and weak against his grasp as he tossed her to the ground.But this wasn't now.This was about ten years ago."Leave me alone" She screamed, earning herself another nasty slap and he hovered above her. "I gave you everything but one, is it hard that i ask you to love me?" She looked into his furious eyes."Colton." She called, whispering through her lips."Don't call me." He shoved her hands away. "Because when you were having all you