Lost Hope

Chapter Three

It's the same day all over again.

Nightmare. Back to sleep. Alarm. Breakfast. School. Home.

Only one thing is different today.

There's a car parked in the front yard.

"I told you they'd be back." Lola points in my face and laughs before sprinting inside to greet our parents.

I stand in front of the house, staring between it and the car, preparing myself. I was so sure they wouldn't be back. I hadn't been expecting this.

I should be ecstatic that my parents are back after being away for weeks, but I'm so used to the broken promises and disappointment that I'm already preparing myself for them to leave again.

I'm not sure how long they'll stay for. A few days? A week? Two? It's all a guessing game. Nothing is ever certain with them.

I enter my house and drop my bag by the front door before following the echo of voices that lead me to the living room that's suddenly sprung of life. This room only gets used when my parents are home or friends visit, so it's been collecting dust since Christmas.

Mum's bleached blonde hair is the first thing I notice. Its natural waves bounce perfectly against her slender shoulders that are covered by a formal, black dress. Diamonds hang from her ears, jewellery covers her fingers and wrists. She looks like a star. So presentable and smart looking. Her red lips pull into a large smile as her crystal blue eyes gaze at my sister in a proud way. Sometimes I wish she'd look at me that way. But, even though Lola and I are twins, we couldn't be more different. I'm the disappointment. After everything I did, that was inevitable.

"Darling," she speaks in her rich, well-spoken tone. She extends her arms and wraps me up before pressing a kiss against each cheek.

"Hi, mum."

"I've missed you—we both have." She looks to my father who nods his head in agreement and travels to hug me.

His jet black hair is slicked back against his head with too much gel. His moustache and beard is trimmed and styled perfectly, just like it always has since I was little. A stripped shirt is tucked into his suit trousers, tightening against his tummy that sticks out.

"Isla. How've you been?" he asks after kissing my cheeks.

I smile for the both of them. "I've been good. How're you both?"

"Just fine, darling," mum says, stroking my short hair behind my ears. "Oh, we've missed you both so much."

"We've missed you, too," Lola expresses, hugging my mum tightly and refusing to let go.

"We're going to take you both out for dinner tonight to celebrate. How does that sound?"

Lola claps her hands together and lets out an excited squeal.

"Sounds good." I smile calmly and gratefully. This all seems so surreal, like it's all a dream. I try not to get my hopes up for if that's the case.

"How's Ryan?" mum asks my sister as they take a seat on the sofas. I watch and listen to them gossip for a minute or so, and then I join my dad in the kitchen where he grabs a packet of crisps.

He looks exhausted, but that's to be expected after the plane ride home. I thought they'd be used to it by now, but it seems not.

"Have you been okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, all good."

"Been going to therapy?"

Therapy. I'm not sure whether it helps or just opens up more wounds. Either way, I'll continue to go just to keep my parents happy. Even though I hardly see them and it feels like they're almost strangers, they're still my parents. I think I'd do just about anything to make their lives easier. I've known the worst parts of life, I know how lonely and terrifying it can feel, so I refuse to let another person feel like that because of me.