In The Darkest Hour

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Two: Saying Goodbye

Warning: This isn't going to be an easy chapter... might contain triggers.

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“Isla… you didn’t have to do this sweetheart,” Tracy said shaking her head as she looked at her daughter, she didn’t know what had gotten into her daughter but she was sure it was a good sign.

Isla smiled signalling for her parents to take a seat, she had spent all day making sure the house was perfectly clean and then had started on dinner; she was determined to do something nice for her parents after everything that they had done for her.

“I did,” Isla replied dismissing her mother’s words, she had put her parents through so much and she hated that they had suffered because of her; she wanted to make it right and this was just the start of her plans.

Tracy smiled at Isla, she hoped that this would be the moment that her daughter turned her life around; she was so worried about her and she had no idea what to do with the whole of Barcelona being against her for something that she didn’t do.

“Now for starters, you are having vegan mushroom rolls,” Isla said smiling, she had spent most of the afternoon cooking for her parents and she was certain that they deserved it; she didn’t want to let them down ever more.

Isla kept a smile on her face, she wasn’t going to let her dark thoughts get her down right now; she was going to spend the day showing her parents how much they meant to her and then she would make sure that she could never mess up their lives again.

Theodore watched his daughter, he didn’t know what it was about Isla but there was something different about her; he was sure that it could only be good and he had no idea how much more she could take before she snapped.

“That sounds lovely,” Tracy said looking at Theodore, she wasn’t sure what to make of this and she prayed that everything was finally turning itself around for the family.

***

“Gracias for dinner,” Tracy thanked wrapping her arms around Isla and hugging her daughter close, she couldn’t believe how happy her daughter looked and it had been a wonderful chance.

Isla held onto her mother and closed her eyes, she had no idea what her parents would do if they knew what she had planned but she doubted that they would be pleased.

“I love you madre,” Isla whispered holding onto Tracy trying not to cry, she wasn’t going to cry not now that she was so close; it would only give away what she had planned and she wanted her parents to be happy.

Tracy blinked confused as Isla kissed her cheek before she moved to hug her father, she watched wondering what had gotten into their daughter; she shook her head sure that it was nothing.

“I love you padre,” Isla whispered pressing a kiss to Theodore’s cheek, she stepped back from him and smiled wanting nothing more than to make her parents happy.

Isla doubted that they had any idea how truly bad things were and she had never told them about the messages that she was getting from R; she felt so alone and she had no one to turn to right now.

“I’m gonna head to bed,” Isla said as her parents moved towards the living room, she didn’t want to draw this out and she knew that it would be better if they were distracted by the television.

Tracy and Theodore nodded bidding their daughter good night, they smiled at each other knowing that they hadn’t seen her this happy in a while and they hoped it would last.

Isla watched them go for a moment before she silently made her way upstairs and headed for her bedroom where everything was ready.

Isla closed her bedroom door silently behind her and slowly changed out of her clothes, she had showered earlier and had washed her hair; she smiled to herself moving to dress herself in the pink flared midi dress and black metal bar flat ballet shoes.

Isla knew it was silly but she wanted to look her best, she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at herself; she had lost so much weight but it didn’t matter not anymore.

Getting herself a glass of water from her bathroom, Isla set it down next to her bed and moved to get her laptop knowing that there was one person who would celebrate her death.

Isla wasn’t even surprised to see several messages from R, she wondered for a moment what the person behind her torment would do when she was gone.

Isla slowly read the remaining messages as she reached over and picked up the medicine bottle, she slowly unscrewed the bottle and took several pills; she didn’t care how it happened but this seemed like the best way to go.

Isla popped one of the pills into her mouth and washed it down with some water, she closed her eyes wanting to make this easy for her parents; she had already arranged everything and she had written letters that were waiting to be handed out.

The first was for her parents to apologise for putting them through hell, the second was to Montserrat to thank her for what she had done, the third was to Gerard wanting him to be happy and telling him her side of the story.

“I wish you would die, R,” the last message read making Isla snort amused at how this person was getting their wish, she took another pill and washed it down quickly; she felt a little dizzy and sick but she wasn’t going to stop.

Isla stared at the message and blinked clearing her vision before she slowly reached to type a message back to R, she would never have to deal with any of this again and she was relieved.

Isla was already feeling lighter and she was sure it was the pills taking affect, she took another one before she decided on what she wanted to say to the person that tormented her for months.

“You win,” Isla replied quickly before pushing her laptop away, she took a couple more pills in her hand before she put the bottle down; she closed her eyes as she popped the rest of the pills into her mouth.

Washing them down with the last of the water, Isla gagged a little wanting to throw up and she knew it was too late now; she laid back on her bed and closed her blue eyes waiting for something to happen.

Her vision was starting to blare out and she focused on her breathing wanting to take a nap, she slowly found herself slipping into unconsciousness just as her mobile started to ring on the bedside table.

Montserrat’s name appeared on the screen as the mobile rang out, the noise seemed to echo around the room but it did nothing to wake Isla who didn’t move; her breathing slowing down as she lay on her bed.

“Isla… your phone is ringing,” Theodore said knocking on his daughter’s door, he frowned when he didn’t get a response; he had heard the ringing from downstairs and he knew only Montserrat would be calling.

Theodore looked around the room before he walked over to Isla who didn’t move, he gave her a gentle shake hoping that she would get up; he looked at the bedside table as his eyes landed on the pill bottle.

Theodore felt his stomach drop as he slowly realised what was going on, he roughly shook Isla who didn’t wake and he started to panic about what his daughter had done.

“Tracy call an ambulance,” Theodore screamed as he tried to wake his daughter, tears streaking down his face as tried to get Isla to respond; he pleaded with her to wake up wondering why he didn’t see this coming.

The mobile at the bedside continued to ring, Montserrat had no intentions of giving up not when she finally had good news for Isla.