Adelin

By: Rayauna Martin-Milton

A fierce rain came down and all you could hear was thunder and lightning.  I got up and walked to my vanity.  I picked up the seat cushion and traced my fingers over the name that was sewn in.

“Adelin…” I whispered.

I had always wondered why that was my middle name; my mom had always told me it was just a name that her and my dad had thought of but whenever I brought it up to my mom, things would get tense.

I put the cushion back and and sat down.  I looked at my reflection in the mirror.  My brown skin glistened as the lights from my mirror shined on me and my hazel eyes twinkled.  As I went to pick up my hairbrush, something caught my eye.  A white envelope with a red seal placed in the corner of my white vanity.

It wasn’t there before, at least I don’t think it was. I picked it up and seen my name written on it.  I carefully opened it and took out the letter, which read-

Dear Isabelle,

You might not know who I am, but I know who you are.  You’ve grown so beautifully and I’m sorry I wasn’t around to watch you grow up, but I want you to know the truth about everything and who I am.  You’re turning 16 soon and I want to be around for that, I’ve already missed too much of your life.  If you want to talk, I’ll leave my number on the back of this letter.

Love, Addy

P.S. You can’t tell your mom about this letter,this has to stay between us or you’ll never know the truth!

I kept going over the letter, not only was my curiosity getting the best of me, I wasn’t sure if keeping this from my mom was the right thing.

“Isabelle?” My mom came in my room and I quickly shoved the letter behind my back.  I guess I chose what to do about this letter.

“Sorry to just bust into your room, but I just wanted to let you know I’m going out with a friend.” Her radiant smile glistened as she walk towards me and moved my black curls out of my face. Her soft hand touch my skin and her dark colored lips kissed my forehead leaving behind a maroon colored print.  

“Well?” She spun around, showing off her little black dress and purple heels.  Her silky, long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail and her dark brown skin glowing.  My mom was so beautiful and I loved her with everything in me.

“You look stunning!” I stood up and motioned for her to sit.

“You know what would pull that outfit together?” As she sat, I ran over to my bedside dresser, stuff the letter I was still hiding in it and took out a box.

I walked back over to her and gave her the box.  Opening it, she was surprised.

“Hun, I can’t wear this!  I-it wouldn’t feel right, your dad gave you this!” She insisted.

“I know but I want you to wear it.”  I took the box and took the necklace out.  I handed her the box and then placed the necklace around my mom’s neck.  The small gold angel pendant shimmered and we both looked in the mirror.

“Ma?”

“Yea?”

“Do you think dad is watching over us?”

“I know he his, babygirl.”  My mom took my hand and squeezed it.

“Do you think he’d be proud of us?” She paused.  Standing up and taking a cloth from the vanity table, she turned to me and wiped her lipstick stamp off my forehead.  

“What do you think?”  We shared a grin and she walked away.

“I won’t be back too late.  I love you, princess.”

“Love you too.” I blew her a kiss and she left.

It’s been me and my mom for a while now, ever since my dad died when I was six.  But before that, we were happy.  My parents adopted me when I was just a baby, but it's always been me and my mom against the world.

I walked over to my bed, untucked the covers and just laid there staring at the ceiling.  Although it was only 9:45, I was tired.  While I was laying there, the letter raced through my mind.  Addy? That name- why does it sound so familiar?  I couldn’t put my finger on it and I was too tired to overthink it.  My eyes got heavier and heavier, and soon after I drifted off into a deep sleep.

It felt so real. Her touch. Her scent. Her smile. It felt so real.

She looked just like me, just a little older, like 2 or 3 years.

“Addy!  Addy!  Addy?”  Excitement turned into confusion.  Where’d she go?  “Please don’t leave me!  Addy, come back please!  Please!”

“I’ll be back… I promise!” The smell of the fresh rain, the wet grass hitting my feet.  I chased after the black car into the empty street.  I stopped and the car was soon out of sight.

“Please,” I stood there with tears in my eyes. “Please.” A single tear fell and so did a raindrop. Then more.  And more.  And more.  I was just standing there in the pouring rain waiting for her return that I knew wasn’t going to happen.

My eyes shot open!  It had happened again, but it didn’t feel like a dream this time, more like a memory.

I looked at the clock on the wall, it was only 6:15 and I knew I was the only one who was up this early.

“Addy?”  I was confused why that name was popping up lately.  I didn’t know what to do, so I got the letter and dialed the number.

Putting the phone to my ear, it rang 4 times.

“What am I doing? No one would be up this early!” and just as I was going to hang up a voice came from the other line.

“Hello?” a delicate and sweet voice spoke.  I didn't say anything. I couldn't, it felt like I was frozen in time.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” the voice spoke again.  I was so scared and nervous, I didn't know why.

“Isabelle… Is that you?”

“Y-you know my name?” I broke my silence. ¨How did you know I’d call?

¨I didn't. I just hoped you would.¨ the sweet voice turned into a cute giggle.

“Addy?”

“Yes?”

“Who are you? How do you know who I am?”

“I want to meet you, Isabelle.” She completely dodged my questions.

“Y-you wanna meet me?”

“Yes I do, if that’s ok with you of course!” Before I could think the words just ran out of me.

“Yes, I would love to meet you!”

“Great! How about we meet today at Ginn Park, say 12?”

“Wait! You live in Rhode Island?” There was that silence again.

“I’ll explain everything when we meet!” and with that she hung up and I sat there with an anxiousness in my stomach.  I was finally about to meet this mystery woman who claimed she knows me.  I looked at my clock again. 6:45. I still had time to get more sleep, so I set my alarm for 11 o’clock, laid my head on my pillow and went back to sleep. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have anymore dreams.

CRASH!!!

“ISABELLE? Oh my god, NO!” It was all a blur, all I saw was white and all I smelt was burnt leather.

“Isabelle? Can you hear me? Help is on the way, stay with me, babygirl!” That scent. That voice. It was her. It was Addy.  I struggled to open my eyes. Her hazel eyes met mine. It felt right, like we had this unspoken bond.  

It started to get dark and cold.  In the distance, I heard sirens and then nothing.

My eyes shot open once again. I felt my face and my cheeks were wet. Tears? For the last time, I looked at my clock. 10:30.  I turned off my alarm and just decided to get ready.

Within an hour, I had showered, brushed my teeth and got dressed. I had put on my favorite black leather boots with the zipper on the side. It corresponded with my dark blue jeans, white shirt and light brown leather jacket.  I looked in my mirror.  Something was missing.  I opened of the drawers on my vanity and took and a brand new pack of headbands.  I ran my fingers across the different colored, cotton made headbands.  I picked the black one, put it on, being extra careful not to mess up my ponytail.  I stared at myself in the mirror once more.  The closer 12 came, the more anxious I got. Snatching my phone, seeing it was 11:45, I left my room and went downstairs.  

It was quiet and it was clear I was the only one home.  My mom was most likely at work and our housekeeper wasn’t here yet.  Before leaving, I grabbed an apple and was finally out the door.

Feeling the the leaves crunching under my feet as I walked, a slight breeze blew and the reddish-yellowish leaves rustled on the trees.  It was a somewhat short walk and I was almost there.  I was across the street from the park when I seen her.  She was early. 11:55. Her brown hair blowing in the light breeze.  She was looking around when our eyes met.  There was that feeling again, like in my horrendous dream. That unspoken bond.

I stepped into the street, blocking out everything around me.  It felt like it was only us.  I seen her mouth moving but I couldn’t hear anything she was saying I couldn’t hear anything around me.

CRASH!!

A black car came out of nowhere.

“ISABELLE? Oh my god, NO!” It was all a blur, all I saw was white and all I smelt was burnt leather.

“Isabelle? Can you hear me? Help is on the way, stay with me, babygirl!”

It started to get dark and cold.  In the distance, I heard sirens “Addy…”

And then, silence.