Twisted Ties of Love

Casey gently patted Izabella's head, tucking her in a little closer as the wind howled outside, threatening to chill them to the bone despite their layered clothing and scarves.

As he adjusted her scarf, Casey said softly, "You know, there's going to be a whole bunch of people who'll be kind to you."

A faint smile played on Izabella's lips as she reached out and grasped Casey's hand, thinking how wrong he was. Her world was shrinking, not growing-Casey was her everything. As for him, well, he was the one bound to be surrounded by tenderness. His future stretched out long and promising, and he deserved all the love that was coming his way.

Izabella's mind drifted away.

She thought, "If one day I'm gone, Casey, I hope you'll live a life full of everything I never got to do. I love the warmth of the winter sun, the twilight's hazy glow, the green fields ripe with harvest, and someone named Casey. I love searching for cicadas in the winter, listening to the whales sing by the seaside in summer, watching seagulls spread their wings, and the last rays of the sun setting over the ocean. I love the thought of someone being there to see all the beauty this world has to offer with me. But if I'm not around, well, it's up to you to take in all the wonders for me."

"Bella, what's wrong?" Casey's intuition was sharp. Despite the fleeting moment, he caught the glint of tears in Izabella's eyes.

"I just can't believe how lucky I am," Izabella breathed in, stifling the hoarseness in her voice, "to have met you."

Casey had finally managed to clear his schedule for the day, and by five o'clock, they were off to visit Beck at the hospital.

Beck's condition hadn't changed much; there was no discernible improvement or decline.

On the way, Izabella bought a bouquet of sunflowers from a florist and placed them by the hospital window, watching the family inside chat away.

Bunny suddenly brought up the topic of weddings.

"Just yesterday, I asked Izabella what kind of wedding she'd like. She mentioned something traditional, and you know, I've been looking at the calendar. How about we aim for the end of December? That gives

us just over a month. We don't need to invite a huge crowd, just close kin and buddies," Bunny suggested, glancing toward Izabella, who stood by the window caressing the sunflowers.

"Bella, what do you think about having the wedding on Christmas Day?"

December twenty-fifth. That would mark six years since her passing.

Before Izabella could respond, Casey interjected, "That's not a lucky day. Let's push it back a bit."

Izabella finally spoke up, "Actually, we could skip the wedding altogether."

"No way," Bunny, Beck, and Casey chimed in unison, their gazes firmly fixed on her.

"Marrying off is a woman's most special day; you've got to have a ceremony even if it means breaking the bank," Bunny insisted.

Izabella and Casey didn't linger long at the hospital. Beck needed his rest, and by eight o'clock, they headed home.

Bunny walked them out, arm-in-arm with Izabella, treating her like her own daughter, and reminding Casey, "Take good care of Izabella. Don't wear her out."

"You don't have to tell me, Mom. Go back now, and take care of yourself."

"Mhm," Bunny stood at the hospital entrance, the wind biting at her despite not stepping outside. She adjusted her coat tighter around her and watched them leave.

As they drove off, Izabella could feel Bunny's eyes on her. She caught sight of the hospital entrance through the rearview mirror.

The day's earlier mishap at the amusement park, when Casey's seatbelt came loose, flashed through her mind, leaving her cold with what-ifs.

No one had been left behind this time, but the thought of any harm coming to Casey or anyone in the Dempsey family because of her was unbearable.

Mrs. Bunny and Mr. Beck had been so kind to her; how could she bear to cause them grief?

Outside the car window, Izabella murmured, "She's still there, watching. She can't bear to leave you. Once things settle down, you should spend more time with her. She's a wonderful mother." Her choice of words was "you," not "us."

Casey noticed but didn't press the issue. Exhausted from the day, he pulled Izabella into his arms and murmured a low "Mhm."

Halfway home, the car's brakes failed. The driver managed to pull over safely, but it was the second scare of the day.

Casey's brow furrowed with concern. "Wasn't this car serviced regularly?"

The driver was equally puzzled. "I had it checked just last week; there shouldn't be any issues."

They ended up hailing a cab for the short remaining distance to their home.

"Are you feeling alright?" Casey noticed Izabella's pale complexion.

Mustering her strength, Izabella offered a wan smile, "Just tired, I guess. I'm a little sleepy."

"Then let's get you to bed early tonight," Casey suggested.

Once home, the first thing Casey did was draw a hot bath for Izabella. The shock of the day had taken its toll, and he hoped the warmth would soothe her.

Shock can do strange things to a

person, and despite the hot milk Casey warmed for her, Izabella was tormented by nightmares of

surviving a virus only to be fellel ne

by

accident after accident, with Casey dying before her eyes.

She woke with a start, cold sweat drenching her skin, shaken from the nightmare that had felt all too real.

Casey, lying next to her, was instantly alert. His hand reached out and flicked on the lamp, "Bad dream?"

Hearing Casey's voice, Izabella nestled closer into his embrace and replied, "Casey, I'm scared something will happen to you. Promise me you'll be okay, that nothing bad will happen." Casey ran his fingers through her long hair. "Nothing's going to happen to me. I'll always be right here with you. What kind of nightmare got you all worked up?" Casey asked.

"I forgot," Izabella didn't really answer, instead she just hugged him tighter.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"Forget about it then. Don't dwell on it."

Izabella couldn't fall back asleep after the sudden awakening. She lay there with her head resting on Casey's arm, watching him yawn and quickly drift back to sleep.

She didn't want to share her nightmare, not because she didn't want to, but because it was a kind of terror she felt Casey shouldn't hear.

After watching Casey for a while and making sure he was deep in sleep, Izabella propped herself up and gently kissed the corner of his lips, chuckling softly, "Such a horrible dream isn't meant for your ears." Turning over, she lay flat and stared at the ceiling, murmuring to herself, "I should get up early and make breakfast tomorrow, or you might never get to enjoy it again."

The next day, before the crack of dawn, Izabella was already sneaking out of bed to make breakfast for Casey.

She prepared a creamy oatmeal, discreetly adding a little something extra into it, stirring until it disappeared without a trace.

When Casey awoke to find Izabella's

side of the bed empty and called out

twice with no response, panic

setting in. He hurriedly got up and went downstairs, only to breathe a sigh of relief when he saw the busy figure in the kitchen.

"Why are you up so early?"

Izabella turned around, "I didn't have much to do today, so I thought I'd make you breakfast. Go freshen up, and then you can eat and change." Izabella had made crispy donuts that crunched with each bite.

As Casey took a generous sip of his oatmeal, Izabella pursed her lips, her eyes cast down to hide the whirlwind of emotions swirling within them. "You shouldn't drive today. Let's call a cab instead. I'm not too sure about those cars of yours."

"Okay, I'll listen to you."

Izabella arranged the ride. By the

el:

time Casey was dressed, the car had arrived. Maybe it was the recent exhaustion catching up to him, but even after a good rest the day before, he felt an overwhelming tiredness again, his eyelids drooping uncontrollably.

"Are you going to work today?"

Izabella shook her head, "Did you forget it's Saturday? No work on Saturdays. I'll rest at home and wait for you to come back."