This Isn't About You

It wasn't enough. Nothing was enough for Isla.

In this world, there are only spotlights. Everyone has one, but that didn't guarantee that everyone shines the same.

As a child, Isla accepted the blunt reality that she'd always be second; dull, boring, unwanted girl. Above her, stood the luminosity of a sacred light belonging to her lovely sister, Aoileann. It was something Isla could never touch, something Isla didn't have the privilege to.

Aoileann, who paved the expectations sent her way, with her perfection and excellence.

On the odd occasion that Isla's light flickered on, it would still pale to in the darkness of her younger brother's drug addiction.

That's just the way it was. That's just the way it was always going to be... up until... all her plans had come to ruin the moment she was sent to boarding school.

*** 5 years later ***

Coyly, I ask, "Yes, Adrian?" and his anger falters for a second, before ultimately melting into defeat.

No more, is the boy who used to curtly steal books from me in the library, and instead, stands a man seemingly determined.

A very obvious stare down occurs between the two of us.

I know he could never be angry with me, but I can't quite place what he's thinking.

"What are you doing here Isla?" he asks, a bit calmly than he did earlier and I remember the last time we were together, tangled up in his sheets.

I lied, "Missed the family, I came to visit for a while", but there was no way that I'd miss them and he knows that.

"You left" he says, and I nod.

"Why?" he asks.

"I have my reasons", I respond and he looks exasperated,

"Isla, please, just- why did you leave me?"

***

Cover designed on CANVA, the model is Jourdan Sloane; on social media.