41

Isabella

Just after the boy met eyes with me in my dream, it faded into another one. This time, it was a memory I was fond of. I played with Uncle Rodrigo, who enjoyed tossing me high up into the sky before catching me and tickling me. Uncle Rodrigo mostly spoke in Italian; his reason was that he wanted us children to get used to the mother tongue. It was his consistent actions that made me able to understand Italian with ease and speak it as well.

Back then, Cassandra was not so twisted. She was a sweet girl, except it was clear that her father had spoiled her a little too much. Sometimes, it was evident in the way I would wake up and find some of my shoes missing, only to see them on Cassandra's feet. For a while, I let it slide, and then my mother spoke to me harshly.

It was then I confessed to my mother that I suspected who was stealing my shoes. Especially when my mother didn't believe it until she did, and told me to talk to my friend. I spoke to Cassandra that day and felt