Isabell’s pov: It had been a few weeks since the dog incident. Everything returned to normal, at least “normal” was turning into something new. The dog kept following her to and from school. It was unsettling but Isabell tried to make it not seem like a big deal. “Maybe it’s just hungry” Isabell muttered once, after she had gotten home from school closing the door, “Or lonely” The massive black dog was a turning shadow in her life. No matter what she tried; shortcuts, longer paths, or even taking the bus but it still followed her. One day, after an encounter, Isabell snapped. “What’s your problem?” she asked furiously, kicking the huge dog with her foot, which seemed impossible since it was eye level to her. The dog yelped softly at the kick, but it didn’t try to attack her or anything. Instead, it looked alarm, or maybe a bit... pleased. “Don’t ever try to follow me again” she spat, getting away from the street as soon as possible. It didn’t make any noise, instead it sat there, its tongue sticking out and its tail waddling furiously. Isabell just scoffed, leaving the dog alone as she kicked the pebbles shining in the morning air. As she stormed away, the dog had its eyes locked in with Her until she disappeared at the turn. It wasn’t until later that night when all her questions would be answered. It was a normal after-school evening; Isabell sat crissed-crossed on the living room as she fumbled over her Spanish homework. None of it made sense. Even after watching countless of Spanish movies and tv shows, she still didn’t understand what ‘Aunque llovía, fuimos a caminar’ meant. Suddenly, there was not a knock on the door, it wasn’t a loud and demanding one but a small and soft one. “I’ll get it!” Isabell called, relieved to find an excuse to take a break from her homework. She stood up from the floor and then opened the door, revealing a woman with short violet hair which stood out in the chilly evening air. She didn’t look old, maybe about in her early twenties to be at the maximum. “Does Isabell live here?” she asked, her eyes darting down to Isabell. Isabell nodded tentatively; why was she asking if she lived here? Was it because she was going to take her to her real family? Will Isabell really be able to fly in a private jet after all? “Well then, can I see her?” “You already are” Isabell smiled. “That’s weird, Aunt Cissy said she was about fourteen by now. Maybe I’m at the wrong house” the woman muttered, her face turning into doubt Isabell’s smile flattered as she looked up at the woman with the strange hair. “Well, for your information, I am fourteen” she said as the frustration bubbled to the brim. “Oh,” the woman muttered her brow furrowed, “Well, I’m sorry but I still think I’m at the wrong house” She slowly stepped away from the doorsteps, her feet echoing across the empty street. “Wait!” Isabell called, chasing after the woman, “What do you want with the ‘Isabell’ anyway?” The woman stopped in her footsteps in her trace. “Well, my aunt. She had a daughter but..” She turned to face Isabell again, her dark eyes darting towards Isabell’s blue ones. “What happened?” Isabell asked, desperate for more information. “Well, something happened with her cousin, and she was forced to give her up to an orphanage” Isabell’s heart skipped a beat. An orphanage? Does that mean she really was looking for her? “Oh,” Isabell mutter, “I don’t think you’ve got the wrong person” The woman raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you say that?” “Because,” Isabell started, “My parents told me about a month ago that I was adopted” “Really?,” the woman asked “But then again, you do have eyes like Aunt Cissy” “Who’s Aunt Cissy?” Isabell asked curiously, although she had a clue of who she might be. “Well, she’s my aunt and well, your mother” “Does that mean?-“ “Yes” the woman replied back, “I’m your cousin”
