My Sister's Keeper

Chapter 10

A few weeks came and went. Between therapy, cheer, school, and her relationship Nora barely had time to breathe let alone think about Isla. So, it came as a shock when her dad let her know that there was another body matching Isla’s description that had been found in the woods at the state line needed identified. “Nor bear I can go by myself if you don’t have it in you.”

“I will not leave you alone to do that.”

“Ok, let’s get ready and we will get this over with.”

They made it to the coroner's office and it was like deju vu. They pulled the sheet down and after everything it wasn’t her, again. Both her and Felix let out a sigh. Again, sobbing at each other's side. When was this going to be over?

The police informed them that the FBI had been notified because they had found another body in a river, but it was too far gone for identification, so they done DNA. It matched a girl that went missing about a year before Isla went missing. They also stated that the 3 girls had all been kept for about 6 months. Nora done the math in her head and Isla had been missing now for a little more than 4 months. If this was indeed the same man then her time was already halfway up.

When she got home, she ran into her sister's room and grabbed her sister's diary. She messaged Spencer, Josie, and Remi to meet her at her house after Felix went to work that night at 7. For some reason she didn’t want to show the diary to the police or her dad. So, she didn’t.

When the door knocked there was her group that she had come to trust more than anyone else. Josie ran to Nora and gave her a hug. “What can we do?”

“I need y’all’s undivided attention. After I’m done then you guys can talk. Ok?”

They all looked at each other and then nodded their agreement. So, she told them about the body and what the cops had said and about Islas diary.

“I didn’t feel comfortable about giving her diary over to them. But there was a senior that had got her attention. I want us to split up the diary and try to figure out who it is. No one else.”

“You don’t want to tell the cops?” asked Remi.

“No, I feel like she kept this person a secret for a reason. You in?” She said to the group and everyone nodded in unison.

They each took a portion of the diary and started reading. After about an hour Remi paled.

“Found something, but I dunno how you are going to feel about it.”

“Rip off the bandage.” Said Nora.

“It might be better if I read it.” Remi said waiting for Nora’s permission. She nodded.

“January 8, Dear Diary, today I went with my dad to welcome the new next-door neighbors to the neighborhood. The parents seemed nice enough. They called for their daughter and oh my god, my breathe had been taken from me by the most beautiful woman. She was about 5’5 with brown shoulder length wavy bob haircut and her eyes were a gorgeous hazel and anime looking. You could definitely see her mom's Korean roots in her. She took my hand and said hi I’m Delilah and when I say it was love at first sight. I composed myself enough to say that my name was Isla. She smiled a knowing smile. No one can know. Isla Quinn.”

“Holy s**t, my sister is gay and in love with Delilah Moore?”

Josie shocked, “wow, I did not see that coming.”

Remi looked to Spencer who seemed in deep contemplation. “So, Delilah was who she was supposed to meet with at Gideons party?”

Nora nodded her head, “it would appear so. Why didn’t she tell me? I don’t care that she is gay.”

Josie knowingly said, “maybe she wasn’t ready to tell anyone. She might not had explored it yet. Maybe she didn’t even know until she saw Delilah.”

Nora remembered when Josie told her about being bisexual. She remembered how scared Josie was that Nora would not want to be her friend anymore. Coming from a Bible Belt it soon became apparent to the group that the stigma surrounding same s*x couples was crippling. Judgement fire and brimstone. Tomorrow at school Nora was going to confront Delilah.

***

“Delilah, we need to talk.”

“of course. What’s up?”

“I know you and Isla were together.”

Delilah’s eyes were so wide. She grabbed Nora and led her into an empty classroom. “Keep your voice down. Are you crazy?”

“I also know that you were supposed to meet up with her at Gideon’s party and that you were the last person that I saw her with.”

“Nora, I know how this looks. Please let me explain.”

“Please do.”

“Yes, I had her meet me at Gideon’s party, but it’s not what you think. After you went to the docks, I led her into the woods to talk about.... Well, someone else that had a crush on her and asked me to talk to her for them. Once we were alone, she grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I was caught off guard. I pushed her back and asked her what she was doing. She told me how she felt. She told me that when I told her that I wanted to meet her there she thought I was going to tell her I felt the same way. But I told her I wasn’t gay. I needed her to understand

but She got upset and ran off before I got to tell her I was trying to talk to her for someone else and that was the last I had seen her. I swear. I was terrified after the party that people would think I had something to do with her disappearance, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Oh my god, she had to had felt devastated.”

“She was, I ran after her but by the time I got back to the bonfire she was gone. I thought she went home so I figured you would see her when you got home. I didn’t want to ask if anyone saw her because I got the impression that no one knew she was gay and she wanted to keep it that way. And this place has a habit of spreading gossip.”

“Thank you for telling me the truth.”

“Of course. She was my best friend. I feel so bad. I didn’t mean to lead her on.”

Nora made it back to her group and told them what she had discovered.

“Oh, poor Isla.”

Spencer and Remi shared a look.

“What, inform the public.” announced Josie.

“Well, I thought I seen someone running toward the cars from where Delilah said they were when we were on the way down to the dock, but I didn’t think anything of it.” replied Remi.

Spencer agreeing, “yeah come to think of it I thought I seen red hair. Then they were talking to Sophia’s brother Luke.”

“You mean hot college bad boy with tattoos and muscles Luke? No offense Remi.”

Remi rolled his eyes, “yes, the very one. It’s about to be Homecoming and he will come home for the occasion.”