The Cut That Always Bleeds | Cobra Kai

Chapter 20

Music was blasting through the car speakers, jolting Isabelle out of her thoughts. Glancing at the driver's seat, she saw her mom nodding along to the music, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. Isabelle shook her head, confused by how she had gotten into the car.

"Did you sleep well, mi amor?" Yeimy asked, glancing at her groggy daughter with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with affection.

"How'd I get here?" Isabelle asked, her voice groggy and her mind struggling to piece together her surroundings.

Her mother giggled, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "We're heading to get ice cream to celebrate your amazing performance. You must've been exhausted. You passed out the second you got into the car."

Isabelle blinked, trying to recall the moments before she fell asleep. "I don't even remember getting in," she admitted, rubbing her eyes and sitting up straighter as she tried to get rid of the throbbing in her head. She noticed her glittery performance outfit still clung to her, and her makeup was slightly smudged from the nap.

Yeimy reached over and gently squeezed Isabelle's hand. "That's because you gave it your all tonight. I'm so proud of you," she said, her voice filled with pride and love. Isabelle smiled, warmth filling her chest at her mother's praise.

"I did it for you, Mami," she admitted softly, squeezing Yeimy's hand as if she would disappear if she let go.

Yeimy's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "And you shined so brightly, mi amor. You were incredible up there." She glanced at Isabelle, her smile radiant. "I knew you had it in you."

"I was so nervous," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to make you proud... I miss you." Isabelle furrowed her brows, confused as to where her confession came from. How could she miss her mother when she was right here?

Yeimy's grip tightened reassuringly. "I'll always be there for you, Isabelle. No matter what." Her words were a promise, a reminder of the unwavering support she always provided, soothing Isabelle's spiraling thoughts.

Isabelle allowed herself to relax fully, the tension leaving her body. "Thank you, Mami," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

"For what, mi vida?"

"For everything," Isabelle replied, tears starting to stream down her face. "For always believing in me."

Yeimy's smile widened, and she brought Isabelle's hand to her lips, kissing it gently. "Always, mi amor. Always."

Isabelle noticed the car barreling at them too late. She could barely scream before the car collided with them. The last thing she saw was her mother throwing herself over her. Suddenly, she felt ten times smaller, no longer in a teenage body. Instead, she was ten again, being cradled by her mother. Isabelle's head cracked painfully against the window, knocking her out.

Slowly opening her eyes, the first thing Isabelle saw was her unconscious mother cradling her against her chest. However, Yeimy's chest was no longer moving.

"Mami?" Isabelle desperately yelled, shaking her mother, hoping that somehow it would magically cause her to wake up. "Mami, please wake up. I need you."

The car was eerily silent, save for the distant sound of sirens growing louder. Isabelle's vision blurred with tears as she clung to her mother's still form. The scent of gasoline and the acrid smell of smoke filled the air, making her choke. She could feel the warmth of her mother's blood seeping into her clothes, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. With trembling hands, she reached for her mother's face, her fingers brushing against Yeimy's cold, lifeless skin.