cast l.h

week one

I don't know what I had hoped would happen, but this is definitely not what I had expected. On my release day I figured I'd have a friend or two waiting outside with my parents but this was not the case.

The case is that I am alone, just like I have been for a year, with only a letter just given to me.

Isabella,

I don't know what to say, all I know is both your father and I are better off staying our distance. There is still so much pain and we cannot handle bringing you back home as of now. We have made arrangements for you though and I'm sure you'll adjust. Aunt Shyla, your father's distant sister, has offered to take you in and put you through school.

Sincerely,

Your Mother

I crumple the paper in my hand and try to compose myself. I sit down in the release building on a hard cold plastic chair and wait for something, anything to happen. I can't fathom what my eyes just read.

For one, my "mother" has never once referred to herself as "mother", it was always mom. Two, I can't remember the last time she ever called me Isabella. From the time I could talk I have always been Izzy. Three, who the hell is Shyla? Last but not least, do they think I am not in pain as well?

They weren't the only ones who went through the worst year of their life. The only difference between them and I is the fact that I went to jail, while they walked away with loads of insurance money; which I am sure had already been drained.

I'd be lying if I said this didn't bring tears to my eyes. But in the past few months I learned crying did not solve anything, but it sure did make me feel better.

I've tried recently to "reflect and forgive" because thats what the shrink told everyone here to do. He claimed "That's the road to happiness."

Which in my opinion is total bullshit, because if he was so enlightened he would realize that trying to convince a bunch of persecuted juveniles that they will ever get their reputation and respect back is cruel.

In the real world, no one will ever see me as Izzy Cooper, the girl that was breaking out of small town Vermont to big NYC. All they would see me as, all anyone will ever see me as for the rest of my life, is a criminal.

As this thought lingers through my brain, I rest my head in my hands, balancing my elbows on my knees that continue to rock back and forth. I stay like this for a while before a slight tap on my shoulder pulls me from my deep thoughts.

My green eyes follow from feet up as I trace the woman in front of me. She wears big boots over jeans and a white button up blouse with her long hair braided down her back. She looks to be late 40's but the only wrinkles I can find on her face are from smiling.

There is a warm soothing familiarity of her face that triggers something inside of me.

"Hi there sweet thing, you must be my niece Bella," the woman says in a thin southern drawl.

I connect her face and the letter and muster up that this must be my Aunt.

"Uhh yeah you must be my Aunt Shyla," I mutter standing up and looking at my feet, "It's Izzy by the way, not Bella." I try to say in the most polite tone.

She throws her head back and laughs, "I know my own nieces name, heck I was the one who first gave you that nickname" She winks.

I smile in return, which is strange since nothing has made me smile in a long time. "So you ready for your release?"

"Yes," I say shamefully.

"Oh c'mon," she responded in a slight southern accent, " This is a big day, give me a hell yeah!" She shouts as she takes my hand and pulls me towards the front desk.

"Hell yeah!" I respond with a cautious grin. I already like her more than my own parents. Oops.

Where has she been my whole life?

I wait behind my Aunt while she sorts out the release and parole papers.

Outside, it's dreary. The skies are lined with ominous grey clouds and the wind gives me goosebumps. On the way to the car she begins talking quickly, "So, I know you don't know me all that well, but I know we're going to get along. I can already tell we're a lot alike." She beams.

Were you sentenced to 11 months in prison?

I think. But I just nod in agreement.

"What's the whole 'plan' you and my parents discussed?"

She begins to tell me that my father excluded her from our lives since childhood because of a real estate debate over my deceased grandparents estates.

This I had never known, but apparently she won. She says that he just wanted to sell the place and cash out, but it had sentimental value to her. I can see my father doing something like that, he gives anything up for money even his own flesh and blood.

She continues on to explain that she is now turning the old plantation home into a bed and breakfast. She tells me that she wants to take me in to help start it up along with sending me to college.

My heart accelerates and my eyes brighten when this news settling in my brain.

I can't help but become speechless when she tells me she got me into Georgia Armstrong Atlantic State University residing in the near town of Savannah, Georgia. Her plantation is apparently just outside the coastal city. I had thought after what I had been through, no actual college would let me in.

"I promise I will work my ass off in school and in your business, you don't know how much this opportunity means to me."

"Anything for you Izzy, I've missed so much of our family's..." she strolls off and clears her throat as a shift uncomfortably in the passenger seat. "I'm sorry I didn't mean..."

"No no it's okay," I respond quickly "What were you going to say?"

"Just... that I wished I hadn't missed so much. I just need you to promise that it will be different here, I know you got into trouble with things back in Vermont, and I need you to know I only want the best for you so I expect you to do your best."

"I promise, I won't get into trouble." I say looking out the window as we drive towards my new home.