Isabelle had just finished her classes for the day and was making her way through the school garage towards her car. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the guy walking towards her until he spoke.

“Hey, Isabelle, right?” The guy’s voice was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. She looked up to find a tall, brown-haired guy standing in front of her. He had a slightly puzzled expression on his face.

Isabelle nodded, not really in the mood for conversation. She just wanted to get home.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he asked, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Isabelle squinted at him, trying to recall where she might have seen him before. “Should I?”

The guy’s smile grew into a full grin. “Well, let’s just say you left a lasting impression on me.”

She rolled her eyes, annoyed. “Look, if you’re hitting on me or something, save your breath. I’m not interested.”

He chuckled, taking a step closer. “No, it’s not that. We actually met before. In the park.”

Isabelle raised an eyebrow. “Park? I don’t recall meeting anyone in a park.”

He leaned against a nearby pillar, his expression turning more serious. “You destroyed my guitar, remember?”

Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She remembered now – a guy playing the guitar, her frustration, and her rash actions. “Oh, you’re that guy. Yeah, well, if you’re waiting for an apology, you can forget it.”

He grinned again. “I thought as much. But I had to make sure it was really you.”

Isabelle huffed, annoyed by his persistence. “Well, congratulations, you’ve confirmed my identity. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

She turned to walk away, but he fell into step beside her. “By the way, I’m Gabriel.”

She glanced at him, still not interested in making conversation. “Great, Gabriel. Goodbye, Gabriel.”

He laughed, seemingly undeterred by her coldness. “You know, you’re not exactly the friendliest person I’ve met.”

Isabelle shot him a glare. “And you’re not exactly the most perceptive. Goodbye.”

As she reached her car, he leaned against it casually. “So, you’re the owner of this fancy ride?”

Isabelle sighed, growing tired of his presence. “Look, you don’t have to see my car to know that I come from a wealthy family.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Before Isabelle could respond, a voice interrupted their conversation. “Hey, Gabriel! Is everything okay?”

Isabelle turned to see a girl walking towards them, a friendly smile on her face. She looked at Isabelle and waved. “Hi there!”

Isabelle nodded back, her curiosity piqued. Who was this girl?

Gabriel glanced at his sister and back at Isabelle, his expression one of disbelief.

“Tracy? Are you two friends?”Tracy grinned. “Yep, Isabelle and I have a class together.”

Isabelle started to feel a little uncomfortable under their gaze. “Well, nice to see you again, Tracy. I should get going.”

Tracy’s smile widened. “Sure thing. See you in class!”

As Isabelle drove away, she couldn’t help but wonder about Tracy’s friendly demeanor.

Isabelle’s phone rang just as she stepped through the front door of her house. She glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Ryan, the police officer she had become close friends with. She answered with a slightly tired voice, “Hey, Ryan. What’s up?”

Ryan’s voice came through the other end, warm and concerned. “Hey, Isabelle. I just wanted to check in on you, see how you’re holding up.”

Isabelle leaned against the wall, feeling grateful for his support. “I appreciate that, Ryan. It’s been a tough day, but I’m managing.”

They talked for a while, Ryan asking about her day and how she was coping with everything. Isabelle shared some of her thoughts and feelings, finding comfort in their conversation. It was nice to have someone who genuinely cared about her well-being.

After the call, Isabelle let out a sigh and headed to her room. She picked up the picture book from her shelf, the one that held cherished memories of her family. She turned to the page with a picture of her mom and Kylian, the two people she had lost. It was taken on a sunny day at the beach, their smiles lighting up the frame.

As Isabelle stared at the photo, a mix of emotions flooded over her. Her mom had always been her rock, and Kylian, her ex-boyfriend, had been a source of comfort during some of her darkest days and also the one who eventually turned her into the monster that she is now. They had shared so many beautiful moments together, but the pain of their loss was still raw.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, “I wish you both were here.” She traced her fingers over their faces in the picture, wishing she could reach out and touch them, talk to them one more time but she couldn’t, those two had ceased to exist in her life.

She closed her eyes, letting the memories wash over her. The sound of their laughter, the feeling of sand between her toes, the warmth of the sun on her skin – it all came rushing back. And in that moment, she felt a sense of connection, as if they were still with her in some way.

Isabelle knew that healing would take time, that the pain would never completely go away. But she also realized that she had people in her life who cared about her – like Ryan and even Tracy the girl she became friends with. With a determined sigh, Isabelle gently closed the picture book and placed it back on the shelf. She wiped away her tears and took a deep breath…