Degrees of Desire (gxg, txs)

chapter forty six

-Diana

18+

Isabella isn't doing so well. I can tell. She hasn't been staying with me despite my best efforts to convince her. I know it would be best for her to continue to stay at her friend's house but I wish she could just be with me.

I didn't want to make her feel even worse in the moment, but I'm absolutely furious. Furious that parents could do such things, especially to my sweet girl.

Isabella is the kindest, hardworking, caring, and loving person I've ever met in my entire life. Her positivity is infectious and inspiring.

I am appalled by the way her parents have treated her. Yet, she always speak so highly about them. Despite their negativity towards her, she remains positive and loving. I don't know how she does it.

These past two weeks, I've only managed to see her in classes. When school is let out, she goes home with Iris. We spend our teaching assistant sessions catching up on everything and I can just tell she's not okay.

I'm extremely worried about her. She's not eating well and she is beginning to have bags under her eyes. I ask her if she sleeps well and she says she does when I know she's just trying to be positive about the whole situation. She doesn't want me to worry, but I can't help it.

Her grades are still high. I still have the power to check them and see how she is doing in her classes. I'm glad that she's doing good in that but everything else is more important than her grades.

It was Friday evening. I asked if she would like to stay with me this weekend. The last time we spent time together was 2 weeks ago when everything had went down.

She had texted me back saying "I'll go over tomorrow."

A part of me has a knowing feeling that something isn't right. I tried to occupy myself with writing and working but nothing would help.

I've been taking care of Stella. Isabella and I video call every night that she wasn't able to come over so she could get an update on her.

Stella was doing well. Actually, she was thriving. She's growing fast and I could tell Stella was the only thing that kept Isabella going. Isabella strived to be a good mum, and she was doing really well at it.

My phone began to ring. I knew who it would be.

"Hello?" I answered the call.

"Uh hi. Isabella keeps asking for you. She isn't doing so well." I hear a girls voice on the other end, Iris's I believe.

"Is that Diana? Oh god. Tell her to come here." I hear Isabella slightly slurring.

For fucks sake.

"I'll be there."

I hung up and got into my car. This was exactly what I had been afraid of. She would be with her friends and she would try and do things to "ease the pain" such as drinking. It wouldn't help her in the end, it'd only make things worse.

I can't do anything to prevent this from happening unless she was with me. I'm so grateful that Isabella has friends that are willing to let her stay with them but they can't control what she does. She's old enough to make those choices for herself.