Hidden Away

Chapter 14

Isabella POV

Ding dong

I looked up from washing the dishes when I heard the doorbell ring. I rinsed off the last dish and dried my hands before walking to the front door. Danny was dead asleep in her room and Alex has been avoiding me since yesterday, so it was up to me to answer the door.

I had a feeling that I already knew what it was going to be: the postman delivering my birthday gift from my Dad. Every year he sends my birthday gift ON my birthday, instead of letting it get here BY my birthday. I rolled my eyes at the thought. I wouldn’t have minded it so much if it didn’t always arrive on the anniversary of my mother’s death.

I open the door to find nobody standing there. I stepped out to look side to side for the delivery guy, but there was no one. Then I hear a crumple sound coming from under my foot and I look down. I see a letter in a light pink envelope with “Isabella” on the front of it.

I picked it up to inspect it. The writing looks feminine and there’s no return address, just my name. I freeze the moment it registers in my mind, this is my mom’s handwriting. I retreat back into the house while staring at the letter in my hand. I can’t bring myself to open it.

I run to my room and gather up all my studying supplies and make my way to my car. I can’t read the letter here, I have to be with her. I drove in silence the entire way. It is a bit of a drive, the cemetery is across town. I always enjoyed the scenery on the drive there, it had a calming effect on me.

I walked up to my mother’s grave and placed the handmade bouquet of flowers next to her. I always picked them myself, my mom always had a connection to nature. I always brought her a handmade bouquet to honor that and to also bring comfort to myself. Today’s bundle had pink carnations with yellow dandelions and white baby’s breath.

I sat in front of her grave with the envelope in my hands. I started at the pink envelope trying to gain the courage to open it. I looked up and imagined my mom sitting across from me, smiling. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath then started to open the envelope. In her perfect cursive handwriting, I read:

My dearest Isabella,

I am so sorry that I cannot be with you, my sweet girl. Everything your father and I have done was to keep you safe because we love you.

I hope that you will live your life to the fullest. I want you to enjoy everything life has to offer: love, adventure, and anything else that will make you happy. You’re one in a million, sweetheart, and as long as you remember that you’ll be able to do anything you set your mind on. I know you will do wonderful things.

I am saddened that I won’t be able to continue your birthday tradition with you anymore. I hope you take the opportunity to surround yourself with other people who will in time become your family.

I love you with all of my heart, my dearest daughter.

Your loving mother,

Sara Keir St. Claire

Tears rolled down my cheeks, uncontrollably. I take a moment to compose myself and then wipe them from my face. I loved her with all of my heart too.

I read it over a couple times, but what does she mean they did everything they could to keep me safe? From what?

I decided to just shake it off, there’s nothing I can do about it. Besides, it’s not like my Dad would tell me anything when we’ve barely seen or talked to each other in three years.

I stayed and studied by my mother’s side for a couple hours. It was an unusually beautiful day with not too much sun and a perfect breeze.

I was driving my way home when I’m scared by a loud howl echoing from the forest. I scanned the trees passing me by to see some sign of where it was coming from. I see a blur of something black coming towards the road.

I bring my attention back to the road in front of me where there is a giant black wolf, probably three times the size of a regular one, running onto the street in front of me. My eyes met his deep blue pools and for some reason I couldn’t turn away. I snapped out of it and swerved my car to the side so as to not hit the magnificent black beauty. Making myself run into a tree. My sense of smell was suddenly flooded with wet earth mixed with pine and sandalwood before I fell into darkness.