Return by Erin Neylon (carter reed .txt) 📖

(4 years earlier)

It was a stormy night; Mick and his oldest daughter Lishy Selkirk were driving home after Lishy’s gymnastics competition. “Papa? How long till we get home? I promised Zach I would call him before 8.” Lishy had said. Zach was Lishy’s boyfriend of a year and she loved him with everything she was. Mick replied “We’re almost there.” A few minutes later they were about to pull into the driveway of their home when another car ran into theirs causing it to roll and hitting a tree. Mick had died on impact as the oncoming car had hit his side. Lishy on the other hand remained conscious right up till she heard her younger sister and twin Isabelle running towards the smashed car screaming her name. Their tight family of four had just become two in a one night.

My name is Isabelle Selkirk. I moved to St. Petersburg, Russia after the death of my father and twin sister. But now; four years later I’m about to go back to Sitia; the town I had left.

“Mum, why do we have to go? Please can we stay?” I begged my mother for the billionth time in the two weeks I had found out I was going back.

“Isabelle you know the answer to that. We are going back and that is final. It’s not like you don’t have any friends back in Sitia.” My mother said sounding frustrated that she had to repeat herself yet again.

“MA! I was 13 when we left. I’m a senior now! You can’t take me back to Sitia on my most important year of schooling!” I whined

“I can and I am if you complain one more time I will send to off to a boarding school where you will know no one, are we clear?!” opps I had pushed her too far this time.

“Yes whatever” I muttered as I headed back to my room for my last sleep here.

When we finally arrived back in Sitia there was the long drive to the house. As we drew near all I could think of was one of the last times I had been on this road.

‘It was a rainy night and mum and I were watching a movie as it was almost done there was this huge bang. I remember just knowing that something had happened to dad and Lishy. I threw open the door and froze as I saw the car there. It was a crumpled mess on its side. Fear had clawed at my belly as I screamed for Lishy and started running as fast as I could towards where my sister and father lay. Little had I known but there was no chance of either of them surviving.

’

“Issy….Issy?” I snapped out of the flashback and looked at mum’s worried face.

“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked

“I said that we’re here.” Mum said sounding mildly annoyed thatr she had to repeat herself.

I glanced out the window and saw the house that was so familiar yet daunting. As we got out of the car and walked up to the door of our old two story home neither mum or I said anything and I couldn’t help but think of the times me and my beloved twin Lishy had played out the front of this very house. I glanced over to where the car had landed and where both my dad and sister died. It looked just like it used too. The tree was no longer there but now a streetlight.

Once we were inside I was shocked that nothing had really changed. It needed a good mind you but otherwise it was still the same old house. I had my suitcase with clothes in my hand and I just walked up to my old room without saying anything to mum. My room still had the bright yellow walls. Yellow used to be my favourite colour; I used to like all bright colours. Now all I ever seem to choose is black, grey and white. I would have to paint my room soon. I dumped the bag near the closest and fell on top of my bed. We had had all the furniture delivered a few days before we had arrived. I instantly fell asleep.

Over the weekend that followed our arrival home I unpacked my few boxes and had painted my walls an off white colour. We had had a few guests over welcoming us back to the neighbourhood. I had stayed in my room with my music blasting. On the Saturday night mum had told me I would be going back to school on Monday. I hadn’t payed much attention hoping that she was joking but unfortunately she wasn’t. On Monday morning mum came into my room and shook me awake.

“Come one Isabelle, you have to get ready for your first day back at school.”

I got up went for a shower and dressed into jeans, a white t-shirt and a grey hoodie. As I headed down stared I saw a photo. It was a picture taken a month or two before the accident. Mum and dad looked so happy and Lishy and I really did look like the twins we were. I walked down the stairs to the kitchen and pulled out some cereal. Mum wondered down a few minutes later in a pair of jeans and a dark blue blouse.

“You ready for school?” she asked me trying to make conversation.

“Yeah I’m ready; I’m about to leave now actually” I said picking up my backpack and heading to the door “I’ll see you later” I said as I walked out the door.

As I walked to school I remembered all the times me and Lishy had walked the exact route to school. God I miss her. When I finally reached the gate of Sitia High School or SHS as we called it I froze. I had forgotten what it was like here. The old gothic looking three story building hadn’t changed a bit in four years.

Taking a deep breath I walked in though the car park and headed to the office. I could feel every set of eyes on me. Some were wondering who I was and others were wondering why I was back. Walking into the office I headed up to the desk there was a lady there her name tag read ‘Janette Smith’

“Hello my name is Isabelle Selkirk, I’m the new student.” I said

“Oh yes Miss Selkirk. Here’s your timetable. I’ll show you around” Janette said getting out of her chair.

“Oh its okay, I used to go here before I moved.” I said which made her give a sigh of relief

“Okay then. Give this to each teacher. It explains that you’re new” she said sitting back in the office chair and handing me a slip of paper.

“Thanks” I muttered walking away. By the time I had looked over my subjects for the day and finding my locker I was already 5 minutes late for my first class; English.
I headed to room 206 when I heard someone say

“Lishy?” Crap. It was Zach, Lishy’s old boyfriend. Slowly I turned around to face him and my heart broke as I watched his face fall.

“Oh it’s you Belle” it was his old nickname for me.

“Hi Zach, How are you?” I whispered. I couldn’t look face him. Lishy’s death had killed him as much as it did me.

“What are you doing back here?!?!” he asked almost sounding angry.

“To be honest I don’t entirely know.” I said getting pissed “I have to go to class”
turning around I started walking away when he called out

“You shouldn’t have come back. You don’t belong here anymore”

I slowed turning to face him as I continued to walk backwards “I know! And I don’t want to be here. But I am so your just gonna have to get over it.” Turing back around, I walked into room 206.

I walked up to my teacher whose name was Mrs Arton. I handed her the slip Janette had given to me. I stood there awkwardly as she read the paper

“Okay guys we have a new student, make her welcome” she said then faced me. “Why don’t you tell us something about yourself Isabelle?”

Sighing I walked to the front of the class and said “Hi. Some of you may know me as I used to go here. My name is Isabelle Selkirk. I moved back here from Russia last week.” I said in a clear voice.

Mrs Arton pointed me to a spare chair. Halfway through class a girl on the table next to mine leaned over and asked “You’re Lishy’s twin, aren’t you?”

I stiffened “Yes” was all I said.

“We used to do gymnastics together” the girl said

“I really don’t want to talk about her. Please?” I said just as Mrs Arton looked over at us. “Girls? is there something you’d like to