Heart Strings

Chapter 1

“But aunt Joanna, I would rather stay here in your lovely home where I can not be deafened by a thousand of Isabelle’s screaming fans.” I whined.

“Now now Heidi, this is your home now as much as it is ours. I know it may take a while to become accustomed to these types of things but you’ll soon grow to accept it. As a family, we will all support each other okay? So for now, you’ll just have to suck up 3 hours of supporting your dear cousin okay sweetie? Now come along.”

Okay. I guess I deserved that one. I have been milking this ‘orphan’ situation for far too long now and Aunt Joanna has been nothing short of kind. After much convincing I was able to take my own car to the local theatre where Isabelle would transform into celebrity mode and sing to the countless numbers of fans that were ‘dying’ to see her. Their words, not mine. I have been let off attending these concerts of hers for the past month. I’ve never actually seen her perform. Then again, I did use to live a thousand miles away. The death of my father still fresh in my mind. Erasing the memories I have grown too used to these last couple of weeks, I shut off the car engine ready to face a thousand screaming fans, all aiming to get a glimpse of Isabelle before she gets on stage. Leaving the parking lot after making sure I locked my car, I headed to find my auntie who was crazy supportive over Isabelle and her singing career. On seeing me approach her, aunt Joanna walked briskly toward me with what looked like a spring in her step. “Here’s your pass sweetie”, she said, placing the lanyard around my neck. On it was picture of myself, allowing me access backstage, also mentioning that I was part of ‘Miss Isabelle White’s family’. Where the picture came from I had no idea because I have no recollection of when or where the picture was taken. “And here is your seat number. You’ll be sitting up front near the stage. I’ll be heading off to the back now. And please refrain from going on those ‘adventures’ of yours okay sweetie? Just because you have access backstage is no excuse for you to be snooping around.” Placing a swift kiss on my forehead she left to go backstage.

As soon as I saw the ‘backstage’ door close behind her I took the lanyard off from my neck and placed it in my back pocket, not wanting to gain attention from being related to ‘Isabelle: singing sensation of our generation’.

“Hey, umm… excuse me?”

I turned around to the source of the voice and saw a young girl in a wheelchair in front of me. Was she talking to me? Or maybe I just he-

“Yeah, I was talking to you. I um. Was that Isabelle’s mom you were just talking to?”

Can she read minds or something? I don’t ever remember saying that out lo-

“You actually are saying stuff out loud”

‘Oh’. Smiling sheepishly I crouched down so I was at her height. ‘Yes, I was just talking to Isabelle’s mom. What can I do for you?’

“Well, you see... Isabelle has really inspired me. Her songs are just amazing and well, you see, my seat is up top on the balcony and although I could get a good view, my wheelchair won’t allow me up the stairs. And the lift is out of-“

‘Say no more, say no more… Here, I would gladly give you my seat.’

As we swapped tickets, it was announced that the show was about to commence and we parted ways. Wow, this just all worked out for the best! I won’t draw attention to myself having to sit up front. Because if I knew Isabelle, she would certainly wink at me from stage or wave at me or do something that would get all eyes on me which is what I have been trying to avoid ever since setting foot in the White household. I occasionally opted to blend in the background, not wanting to be driven by a chauffer in their fancy cars and getting special treatment. I wasn’t used to being spoilt. Back at home, my dad and I were well off but we never spent our money on luxuries that were evident in the White family. And even though I inherited all the money when my father passed, I still kept a limit to my expenditures, paying for my own not-so-brand-new car.