ver, she had already made the decision. She was unable to return at this time. The call finally connected. "Isabella?" Sebastian's voice sounded colder than she had hoped and farther away than she

hened Isabella's determination. She was going to fight for this, just as she had fought for everything else. Isabella stated in a firm voice, "I've made my decision." Her father's final remarks halted her from walking away. Isabella, you might want to reconsider your decision. You cannot simply abandon all that you have worked so hard to achieve. That night, Isabella sat in her flat and stared out the window, the burden of her talk with her father still hanging over her. The silence echoed her uncertainty, and she was alone in the quiet. She was more perplexed than ever after speaking with Sebastian on the phone. She was about to forget about it all, however, when someone knocked on the door. When she opened it, Sebastian was standing there with a tense stance and a confused expression. The man, once so confident and certain of himself, now appeared burdened by a thousand choices. "I came to talk," he said in a low, almost contrite voice. Isabella struggled to find the right words. She had spent days persuading herself that she could handle the circumstances without his help. However, the fact that he was there, so close, complicated the situation considerably. Sebastian continued, gazing into her eyes, "I've been thinking about my feelings of fear." I'm afraid of what such an event could do for my life, but I also know that I've been self-centred. She moved aside to make room for him. Despite the strange range of emotions she was experiencing, she was certain that he would not leave. His voice was hardly audible above a whisper as he declared, "I would rather not be scared anymore." "I would like to participate in this. Please grant me permission to join. They sat on the couch, feeling the weight of all that had gone unsaid, even though they were closer now. Isabell