Loss. ii.

She was done, done with her usual painting. Every painting she made of recent were ones that portrayed heart ache, sadness and loneliness. The paintress seemed to emphasize more on dark colors as she was recreating one of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous paintings.She was still recovering from the incident . Wounds they say heal, Isabelle wasn't sure if the same would apply to her. The wound was still fresh, and the memories of her mother that lingered everywhere only rubbed salt to an open wound.The Thursday clear sky emitted the morning sun rays which reflected in the room. She laid down the sable brushes and pallet on the small stool beside the tripod which held canvas. With a sigh, her eyes looked up to the sky and the ray of sun light."A silver lining they say, more like silver bullshit." As soon as those words left her mouth, she remembered her mother's scolding. Responding to herself she said; "Bad word, correct yourself Isabelle." She paused and continued,"more like silver nonsense. that's better".Orlando, the middle aged butler walked into the Art studio. Not surprised at the paintings that stood before him, he knew Isabelle quite well and painting is one of her talents. Since she was a little girl, she would gift him a portrait of himself every year on his birthday.  Looking at him, one couldn't tell if he was happy or sad, he held a neutral demeanor. Looking at the child that just lost her mother, the terms he could use to spell out what he felt for her could be described as 'understanding'. He did know what it felt like to loose a parent, but when he lost his , he had reached the stage and age where he learnt to accept things the way they were. He was a fully grown man by then. "Your breakfast is ready Miss". He said with his French accent, waited for a reaction from her which he got and he exited the room.As she made her way down the stairs, she still could find it hard to believe , she was an only child. No siblings, she sometimes wondered why." Mama would've given birth to another one but no, she didn't want another child " She muttered under her breath.A silent breakfast, Something she is still learning to get used to. No mother to scold her when she talks with her mouth full or drum with spoon on the table or make unnecessary toasts or doesn't finish her food. Her mother was against food wastage.One time when she was served boiled eggplants and tea, she hated the whole idea of having that for breakfast. her initial intentions were to ditch the food and get a snack from the fridge. Her mother couldn't, wouldn't let that happen."You either eat that food now or you'll be served with that same food everyday for a week" Her mother said." Everyday for a week? I could die, don't you love me mama? you want me to die eating that food. Do you even call this food?" Isabelle looked at the food that almost made her throw up."Well there are lots of people out there who don't have a roof over their head now talk even less of food. but you have both and more so eat em, finish it all." Being a mother meant she had the upper hand and the kid have no choice than to listen."Didn't put them in that situation did I?""Isabelle! " Mrs. Noel who happened to over hear the conversation going on between mother and child had to interfere. "Be grateful that you are not in that situation, those people there didn't want that situation but they found themselves in it. Now child, eat your food" . Mrs. Noel spoke softly.The telephone that sat quietly earlier on let out a loud noise, its ringing echoed the room. Isabelle took note of the Butler's swift action in getting the telephone. The long twisted cord hooked beneath the phone served as an intermediary between the phone and the small box which held the numbers to be dialed.Her eyes trailed down to eye the glass table, taking note of how most of the furniture's were made of glass except the cabinets in the kitchen."Mrs. Ronnie said she's coming over to take you piano lessons". Orlando said, covering the mouth of the receiver waiting for Isabelle's response.Isabelle moved her head left to right slowly repeatedly indicating that she didn't want the woman over. She had a feeling she would come over, some people don't even get the fact that other's need some alone time. She needed to mourn her mother and Miss Ronnie needed to get paid. The piano lessons and every other lessons that comes with it can wait.Come to think of it, who wouldn't want a job they were being paid well for, no matter the situation or weather.  "Miss Isabelle is having a bit of a head ache you see and taking her lessons today might add to it." He said and hung up, not waiting for her response. He had been receiving phone calls like this since yesterday. Still wondering if he should cut off the line. As for Mrs. Ronnie, he never liked the woman. Her eyes were always all over the place, like she was looking for something . Once, caught her locked in over Mrs. Eveline's diamond necklace.Hearing the beep, Ronnie curse under her breath."The lil brat mother is gone now, she doesn't want me in her house uh?. And the nerve of that butler, how dare he."Ronnie looked around the room she was in, she needed a way to be able to get her hands on money somehow" Where do my beloved sister keep her cheap diamond earnings" she opened her sister's jewelry box, her eyes caught a number of diamond earnings she called cheap.The only reason she had come over to her sister's house was to steal another of her property and then flaunt it around proclaiming it to be hers. Wanting to pretend like she was in the higher class, fake a life she wished she had and sister's connections got her into the parties she wanted. She had a feeling she might not be able to get into the Wilton's mansion for a while so she needed to know when was the next party her sister would be attending.What she didn't know was that she had already been given a name in the upper class , some women called her the cheap Whore, for all she did was to come to parties and flirt with men for their money.Having had a few jewelries and Earrings she placed the box back on the dresser and walked out of her sister's room with a triumphant look on her face."Ronnie, I've been waiting for you, what kept you so long in the bathroom?" Vivian, Ronnie's older sister asked with a glass of wine balanced between her fingers. Legs crossed showing off her thighs."had to touch up my make up" She lied, making her way to sit on the couch beside the huge mirror on the wall. She smiled looking at her face admiring her beauty but the smile faltered as soon as she saw her sister in the background taking a sip of champagne.The house was much more quieter at night, Isabelle couldn't sleep. She laid awake staring at the ceilings which had some carvings her mother had specifically requested.She admired the work, it was filled with so much details. Sometimes artists make their works look so effortless, but if you can decode the strokes, lines and carvings you would be able to see that a lot of effort was put into this.One night, she was woken up by a scream that came from the kitchen. She ran downstairs to see Mrs. Noel, Clare and Candice chattering and laughing with cups of tea in their hand. Seems like they didn't know what is going on in the house."I thought we were supposed to be grieving, but I see you are happy with her departure". said Isabelle in a low voice. She wasn't happy with the smile that plastered on their faces." Isabelle. " Mrs. Noel placed her cup of tea on the counter, she was the only one who could referred to her without the Miss. " Believe me when I say we are not happy with your mother's death.""Doesn't seem so. What are you doing now? being happy while drinking a cup of tea. Enjoying yourself are you not?""We are drinking tea yes we are, trying to forget about what happened. We cannot bring her back and you know that". Candice said with her voice as soft as it could be."Just have some tea to calm your nerves down. There's nothing we can do, only to move forward with our Lives" Mrs. Noel said her hand stretched out a little forward, she held the tea hoping Isabelle would collect it.But no, she couldn't believe what these people were saying. Forget? did they say she should forget? 'Did they say I should move on with my life?'.  She couldn't Believe what she was hearing . Shaking her head in disbelief she ran back upstairs, slammed the door shut.Her eyes finally gave up the salty water they've been holding back for quite sometime, she thought she could be strong, strong for her mama but she couldn't."Stop crying Isabelle, mama wouldn't want to see you cry". She said to herself repeatedly.