The Past

Long after her family had gone Isabella continued to keep her eyes closed, as if protecting herself against the painful present. She thought back to her happy childhood when Emerald and her had been best of friends. Why then did he change so much as they grew older?

Was it only because of her 'prosmiciousness' as he claimed? And her parents, she thought they knew her best. But they too had started to believe his lies. She knew she should have stayed back and fought for her right. She should have defended herself with all her might, knowing how old fashioned and orthodox her father was. She'd never had an abortion. Not then and not now. 

Instead, she'd been angry that her parents had questioned her instead of trusting her. She'd been horrified that her parents would believe that their daughter would sleep with anyone and everyone. In her rebellion, she'd made sure that the rumors that had been started about her would get even more wild.