The Last We Fell

16. 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 ℜ𝔢𝔭𝔬𝔯𝔱

Even with my blinds open, I woke up so late in the morning that full blown hot sunlight bathed my entire bed. It seems like I fell into such comatose sleep I barely felt a thing. It's not something that happens often. In fact, it's the opposite of what usually happens when I go to bed. Between the tossing and turning and my mind working overtime, I rarely get enough sleep to get me by during the day. Perhaps it's pure luck that my morning lecture was cancelled, according to the email I received at least. I threw on a sweater dress after getting showered and went downstairs. This was shaping up to be a slow morning so I might as well take advantage of it. I might even make some muffins for breakfast.

"You're awake at last." Belle looked up from her laptop. She sat at the kitchen island, her reading glasses on, looking half dead. "You came back yesterday night?"

I hummed, getting out the ingredients I need. "I thought you would have already left."

"My flight got delayed and I need to tend to some business issues anyway so I rescheduled."

"I see." I prepared the muffin tin and started on mixing the batter. It's better if I don't bother her further. Not like I have much to say to her anyway, but maybe I could still pretend I'm baking alone in the kitchen and enjoy this rare moment of peace. I poured the mixture and put it in the oven, cleaning my tools while the water boils. A cup of tea suits sounds good while I wait. I set my cup on the island and looked at the mess of papers surrounding Isabelle and her laptop. It's a wonder she can still navigate her way through them. I sighed, mentally cursing my unnecessary empathy and set out another cup for her, tidying some of the mess.

She looked up from the screen and stared long and hard at the steaming mug before looking at me. "Is this for me?"

I nodded, scrolling aimlessly through my phone to kill time.

"Thank you." She muttered quietly and took a sip, warming up her hands against the mug. "Lily. I want to ask you-

The oven beeped right then, interrupting her speech. I checked on the muffins and got them out, impatiently putting them out on a plate in the middle of the island to cool off. I ignored Belle's gaze all the while. That is until her stomach rumbled loudly. I raised my eyes to meet hers questioningly. "You haven't had any breakfast yet?"

She smiled tiredly and shook her head. "I was planning to after finishing this."

"Okay." I pushed a plate with two muffins towards her, taking my seat opposite. "It's not my place to say this but you look thinner than the last time you were here, paler, even a little lifeless. I get you have important things to take care of but you won't be able to do that if you collapse because you forgot to take care of yourself. I'm just saying."

Isabelle didn't answer. She took a big bite of the muffin instead and washed it down with tea, looking distractedly at her papers. I shrugged, internally yelling at myself to mind my own business. She's old enough to know good from bad. What am I, her mother?

"I haven't heard that in awhile." She burst into laughter after a minute. I just stared at her curiously, not getting what's funny about it. Her face clouded over suddenly. "This is so silly. I'm such a mess."

Well, that was out of character. "Are you okay?"

She blinked solemnly, taking a deep shaky breath that translated through her voice. "I'm not. I pretend I am but I haven't been okay in a long time. Dad wants me to give up my business, what I worked so hard for... She shook her head, snapping her mouth shut and looking down at the crumpled muffin wrapper.

"What?" I asked hesitantly. I hardly have pleasant conversations with her, let alone sensitive ones. I don't know how to aproach this exactly. "I thought you got his permission."