The Favor

"Bella," Claudia spoke in a weary voice, calling for her 10 year old daughter, all ready for her 12 hour shift duty at a local restaurant by the city. "Feed your sister, will you?" She requested, kissing Isla by the forehead who's blissfully drawing on the floor. The woman, though exhausted, plastered a smile on her face, looking grim and gaunt. "I already thawed the nuggets, you just have to fry them, alright?" She instructed in an agitated manner, walking over Bella, looking jaded with a stiff smile. "Promise you'll be home early today?" The girl asked, noticing the discoloration of her mom's foundation, failing to cover a bruised spot by the corner of her lips. This time, Bella no longer asked what happened, instead, she made sure to gently smudge it with her thumb, spreading it well. "I'll try my best sweetheart.. " Claudia promised in a solemn voice, pressing a kiss against Bella's cheek. "I love you guys, take care of Isla for me please..?" She reminded her eldest one last time before making her way out of the door.

Bella made her way towards the window, silently pondering if her mom would really get home early today. Ah, she forgot to remind her to buy butter and bread; Isla loved those. She contemplated whether she should run after her mother and tell her, perhaps Claudia would be more likely to try and arrive home earlier, in case she wanted to make Isla happy. Instead, Bella went over to her sister, hovering over the painting she made. "What are you making?" She asked in curiosity as the 4 year old gave a bright smile. "It's you, sissy." She exclaimed in excitement. Isla was making a portrait of Bella, looking all happy under the sun, chasing what seems to be a butterfly. "I should see what flowers we have!" The girl figured, making her way towards the door. "No, Isla, we can't go out, remember?" Bella reprimanded, gently pulling her back. "Why don't you help me cook, hm?" She suggested instead, keeping Isla ignorant as to why. Thankfully, the kid obediently followed.

Bella doesn't really know when exactly she figured out what was happening. After all, she's always been aware, observant, and mature. She had to grow up faster and raise herself ever since she was old enough to be left alone. Bella even learned to take care of her mother as well, considerate enough to make sure she's healthy the best she could. At the age of 6, when Isla was born, Claudia gave birth in the same room with Bella who witnessed everything, afraid to even call for an ambulance. Thankfully, the birth of her youngest daughter went well, immediately moving out of town, clearly hiding away from the baby's father. Bella eventually learned how to take care of Isla, thoughtfully helping her mother around since she had to work. Throughout the whole pregnancy, her mother was able to hide away from her boyfriend, who Bella figured was the person who kept hurting her.

At first, she would repeatedly ask her mother why she would cry herself to sleep or come home late with a bruise or two. However, Claudia would either say that she fell or had a little accident, eventually hiding her injuries from her daughter with makeup. Naturally, Bella realized that her mother didn't want her to ask anymore, so she didn't. Bella was aware that her mom needed help and that she was getting exhausted. Over time, she wondered if her and her sister were adding weight to her mother's problems. She would try her best to shoulder Isla all by herself, pouring her energy to raise her sister as a good girl she wanted her to be. Bella was under the impression that she was helping her mom, hoping that she would no longer distance herself by arriving home late. In her eyes, Claudia would avoid going home early, because that would mean she's gonna have to deal with her daughters. However, she could hardly arrive any earlier, making Bella develop this fear that one day, she would no longer go home, finally giving up on her and her sister because of how tired her mother is.

Unfortunately, Bella remained waiting as usual, sitting by the couch, brushing over Isla's hair. The poor kid had already fallen asleep by her sister's lap, looking tranquil and comfortable. For a moment, Bella regrets not reminding her mom the butter and bread, if she did, perhaps Claudia would be here by now. Sometimes she really is early, making the 10 year old repeatedly hope that today she would be.

Eventually, by the time Claudia finally arrived, it was already midnight and Bella had fallen asleep sitting up by the couch. She was disheveled and exhausted, her lipstick was smudged, and her mascara had become runny because of the sweat and tears. Her boyfriend had found her again, somehow tracking her down, gradually getting a hold of her. Claudia barely got away this time, thinking that she should pack again so she can move with her daughters. "Oh, my babies.. " She uttered softly, tears streaming down her eyes. She had failed them again. Claudia saw Isla's sketch, sitting by the table. It only consists of her and her older sister, probably unable to see her mom with the picture. Claudia had been hurting for a while now, thinking that she would never escape her boyfriend. In her eyes, she had always dragged her daughters around with her problems, when it's clear that they're better off without her. Heaven knows how much she loves the girls, but she can't help but drown in guilt and regret.

Would it be a selfless thing if she abandoned them now and took all the burden and war, leaving her daughters with peace and without a mother? Or was it a selfish thing to escape the burden and guilt of being a bad mother? Surely Bella can take care of Isla, she always does. Claudia's always proud of the girl, but she could never take the credit of raising her like that in the first place. Her boyfriend didn't know their existence, they would be safer without her. "I'm so sorry... Mommy loves you.. " She whispered in a faltering voice, her heart breaking in pieces as she pressed a long kiss on the foreheads of her princesses. And there she goes, abruptly packing her things and abruptly leaving the house. Claudia took one last glimpse of her children before running away with tears in her eyes.

The morning arrived soon after, draping the girls with a cold blanket of emptiness and a dull living room. "Sissy?" Isla asked in a sullen voice, rubbing her eyes with her small fists. "Where's mommy?" She followed, understanding that their mother would have carried and transferred both of them by the bed. However, they stayed on the couch. Bella was hit with an overwhelming sense of dread and anxiety, abruptly pushing Isla off or her, scurrying around the house. Isla followed suit, searching for their mother. "She's not home, Sissy!" She exclaimed with a frown after looking around. At this point, Bella was already on the verge of tears, staring out the window as she bit her nails. Isla couldn't grasp the fact that they were abandoned, only thinking that perhaps their mom would eventually arrive home. "It's okay.." She consoled her crying sister, sitting beside her, staring out the window. "Mommy would come back.. " Isla added. However, Bella knew she wasn't. She already checked Claudia's closet, which welcomed her empty and cold. Their mother had left, finally giving up on them.

Isla waited the whole day, staring out the window as she heard her sister's sobbing by the couch, helplessly hugging herself. Bella was inconsolable, filled with a hopeless void of thought. It was her nightmare come true, cold and cruel. She had done everything to help, but it wasn't enough, their mother couldn't fight to keep them anymore, wearing exhausted. Bella's exhausted too, but she didn't give up on Isla, did she? "Sissy, please drink some water.. " The 4 year old asked in desperation, almost welling with tears as well. It hurt her seeing Bella broken, and she wanted to help as well. Bella thankfully accepted, sniffling and hiccuping as she quenched her thirst. "Please stop crying?" Isla asked, her eyes glassy and desperate. However, Bella could only cry more. "I'm sorry, Isla.. " She shuddered in a breaking voice. "I'm so tired.. I don't want to be here anymore.. " Bella followed as her little sister wrapped her in a hug. "Where do you want to go, sissy?" She asked, only wanting to help and ease her pain. "We should go out and play.. " Isla suggested, but Bella only shook her head. "No, baby... We can't leave.. " She reminded her sister, still living up to her mother's orders.

Isla was tempted to go out and somehow look for their mom, wanting Bella to stop crying. However, as hours ticked by, Claudia never came, leaving her daughters hungry. Bella couldn't find the strength to leave the couch, eventually letting Isla scavenge around the fridge, only eating the left overs, fruits, and snacks. Bella wouldn't eat as she cried and cried her fluids out. Isla would repeatedly ask her to drink water, which she fortunately did. In the end, Bella and Isla finally fell asleep, one with hope that their mom would be back tomorrow, and one utterly distraught and hopeless.

The following day stayed the same, leaving Isla scarred with the sound of Bella's exhausted cries. She couldn't help her sister no matter how hard she cheers her up, eventually searching for toys they could play with. Upon Isla's search, she stumbled with her mother's box, filled with papers and pictures of them together— alongside a pistol. However, she only took the photos with her, showing it to Bella instead. "See here?" She asked, pointing at their happy expressions. "Sissy, please don't be sad.. " Isla almost pleaded, her eyes welling up with tears. "We're okay.. " She spoke, cupping Bella's cheeks and wiping away her tears. However, Bella could only cry more when she saw the photo. "Isla, it hurts.. " She complained, pressing their foreheads together. "Please help me... I don't want to live anymore, I'm so tired.. " Bella continued, making Isla tear up. It hurts her to see her sister in so much pain, but she knows what she means. "You're gonna leave me too?" Isla asked in a trembling voice. "I love you, Bella... I love you.. " The child pressed on, hugging her sister.

Upon the third day, Isla couldn't stand the cries of her older sister anymore, only keeping her in a hug, hoping that it would make her feel better. Like what Claudia would do, she kissed Bella by the forehead, thinking that she could somehow take the pain away from her heart. "Isla... I want to die.. " Bella blurted out in a weak and raspy voice, exhausted and through after crying so much. "I don't want to kill myself, but I hope I'd just die... " She added. At this point, Isla repeatedly heard her sister's pleas, only repeating the same words over and over again. "I'm so tired, Isla... " Bella rambled. Isla always wanted to help, doing the best she could. She wanted to do her a favor, even if it means that they won't be together anymore. The day went on the same, but this time— Isla didn't let go of Bella, keeping her in a tight embrace. By the time the 10 year old finally fell asleep, the little girl stared at her, having a sense of dedication and acceptance to keep Bella asleep and in peace. Making her way back to the box with a pistol, Isla remembered how it works. After all, she would occasionally catch her mother watching some action films. In a way, the 4 year old didn't feel scared, she's simply making Bella a favor.

"Mommy, I had a dream.. " Isla called with a bright smile, showing Sammy a drawing of a little angel, holding a smile. "A dream?" The woman asked in a mix of adoration and interest, bringing Isla by her lap. The last time she remembered, the 7 year old would wake up crying from vivid nightmares. The psychologist could still remember how Isla had trouble moving on from all the blood and gore she witnessed 3 years ago. Primarily, Sammy assumed that it was Isla's sense of guilt for killing her sister, but eventually, she figured that it was the sheer trauma. "It was sissy!" Isla exclaimed with an eager nod. "She greeted me happy birthday, she looks so happy, mom!" Sammy was relieved after hearing such an endearing dream. "I'm sure, Bella's in a good place, hm?" Isla nodded. "She's in a garden and she was playing like a little girl. She even hugged me and thanked me that I got her there without hurting her heart.. "

Sammy couldn't help but feel bittersweet. That fateful night, Isla shot her sister by the head, thinking that her heart was located behind her eyes. The little girl was under the literal impression of "your eyes are the window of your soul", considering that Bella's eyes were full of pain. Not to mention, Claudia often gave kisses by the forehead, muttering along the lines that her love would reach their heart. "Isla, baby... Do you miss your sister?" Sammy asked, eventually shifting her daughter in a cradle. "I miss her, but I think she's not supposed to be here with me.. " Isla mumbled in a drowsy voice. "She's happier there, she even said that mommy would follow her soon.. " She blurted out, more or less still remembering Claudia as her mom. Sammy could only hum, cracking a smile over the thought that God really gave each sister their own mother.