Day 55 – 4:07 PM | Isis's Car | Rain Tapping on the Windshield

  She was parked outside the bookstore café, slouched in the driver's seat with her head leaning back and her hoodie pulled tight around her face. Her early morning shift had just ended. She was exhausted, body aching, emotions fried.

  The rain made everything feel heavier.

  She unlocked her phone to scroll through messages from Jasper—typical check-ins, voice notes, a dumb meme he sent just to make her smile. And then... her inbox pinged.

  A new email.

  Subject: From Someone Who Knew Your Mother

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  Hands shaking, she tapped it open. The message was short—but every word hit like a thundercp.

  Hello Isis,

  My name is Eleanor Bckwood. I believe I am your aunt—your mother's sister. I've been trying to find you for a long time. If you're open to it, I would love to speak with you. I live in London, and I understand this may be overwhelming for you. I hope to hear from you.

  Warmly,

  Eleanor

  Isis dropped the phone in her p. Her heart was hammering, breath shallow. She pressed her fingers to her lips to keep from crying out.

  She didn't even remember her mom having a sister.

  But something deep inside her shifted. Hope, maybe. Or fear. Or both. This could be the chance at a new life, something she has been craving and working hard for.

  She opened her messages and immediately typed:

  Isis: Jasper. Something happened. I need to call you.

  4:11 PM [Phone call: Isis & Jasper]

  Jasper calling and Isis immediately picked up.

  Isis: "Hey."

  Jasper: "What's wrong, are you okay?"

  His voice was immediate—concerned, soft but ced with urgency.

  Isis was already crying.

  Isis: "I—I got an email, Jasp. From someone. Someone who says they knew my mom."

  Silence.

  Jasper: "...What? Who?"

  Isis: "Her sister. My aunt. She said her name's Eleanor Bckwood. She's in London, Jasper—she's alive. I have family. Real family. I didn't even know she existed."

  Her voice cracked halfway through, a tidal wave of disbelief rushing through her. She hadn't said the word "family" in years without choking on it.

  Jasper: "Bloody hell... Isis, that's... that's massive."

  She nodded, not realizing he couldn't see her. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel.

  Isis: "I don't know what to do. I don't know if it's real. What if she's lying? What if she doesn't want me? What if she finds out how messed up I am and changes her mind?"

  Jasper: "Stop." His voice was firm but gentle. "You're not messed up. You're just... you've been through hell, and you're still standing. That's strength, not weakness."

  She exhaled sharply, tears spilling harder now.

  Jasper: "Do you want to call her?"

  Isis: "I'm scared. But... yeah. I think I do."

  A pause. She could hear him breathing through the receiver, like he was right beside her.

  Isis: "I think I'll give her a call tomorrow morning."

  Jasper: "Let me know how it goes, yeah? Isis, you're not alone in this, I'm here."

  —————————————————————————————————————————

  [Day 56 – 10:03 AM Phone Call with Eleanor Bckwood]

  Isis sat outside the bookstore café, legs pulled into her chest on a quiet bench behind the building. The sky was pale grey. Dew clung to the grass. Her phone was shaking in her hand as she stared at the number she had typed in three times already.

  She took a breath. And pressed "Call."

  It rang once. Twice.

  Eleanor: "Hello?"

  Her voice was soft, and kind.

  Isis: "Um... hi. Is this... Eleanor Bckwood?"

  Eleanor: (Sharp inhale) "Yes—yes it is. Who's calling?"

  Isis: "It's... it's Isis. Isis Bckwood."

  There was a silence so full it nearly burst.

  Eleanor: "Oh my God. Isis."

  Her voice cracked.

  Eleanor: "You sound just like your mother."

  That hit Isis like a wave.

  Isis: "I didn't even know I had anyone left."

  Eleanor: "Sweetheart, we tried. I tried. When your parents passed, I was living overseas. By the time I found out, the state had taken you. I didn't know where you went. I didn't stop looking."

  Isis's heart beat so loudly it echoed in her ears.

  Isis: "Why now?"

  Eleanor: "I hired someone st year. A private investigator. Your name came up in a file st week. I emailed you the second I got confirmation that it was actually you."

  There was so much in her chest, Isis didn't know where to put it all.

  Eleanor: "I know this is overwhelming. But if you'll let me... I'd love to get to know you. You're family. We own a business and above it is a small 1 bedroom ft, it's not anything fancy, but if you want it, it's yours and you'll be close to us.."

  Tears slid silently down Isis's cheeks.

  Isis: "I've... never had a home. Just pces to sleep."

  Eleanor: "Well, now you have one. In London."

  Isis sat still for a long time after the call ended. The words "You're family" rang louder than anything else.

  —————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

  Day 56 – 11:26 AM Phone Call with Jasper

  Isis was still sitting behind the café, knees tucked under her hoodie, cheeks damp from the earlier call. Her fingers hovered over Jasper's name before she pressed the green button.

  He picked up instantly.

  Jasper: "You alright?"

  His voice immediately softened at the sound of her breathing. She didn't speak right away.

  Isis: "I called her."

  Jasper: (gentle) "Yeah?"

  Isis: "My aunt. Eleanor Bckwood. She's real."

  Jasper: "What happened?"

  Isis: "She said I sounded like my mom. Said she'd been trying to find me for years. Hired someone to track me down after all this time."

  She paused, blinking hard.

  Isis: "She wants me to come live with her in London."

  Silence filled the space between them like it always did when something big dropped.

  Jasper: "Are you going to?"

  Isis: "I don't know. I want to. I think I should. But it's terrifying."

  Jasper: "I get it."

  She pulled the phone closer to her face, whispering like it made her more honest.

  Isis: "But... part of me wants to go just to be closer to you."*

  There was a pause. She could almost feel him smiling through the line.

  Jasper: "You'd be minutes away."

  Isis: "Would you still want to see me?"

  Jasper: (soft chuckle) "I've wanted to see you since Night 7, when you made fun of my pylist. So yeah, I'd be at your door the second your pne nds."

  Her lips quirked into a shy smile.

  Isis: "Then maybe... I'm really doing this."

  Jasper: "I'll be here."

  Jasper: "And Isis?"

  Isis: "Yeah?"

  Jasper: "I'm really proud of you."

  She held the phone to her heart for a second after they hung up, rain misting her shes.

  For the first time in years... she believed that maybe...just maybe...she could belong somewhere.