Hi! I'm, uh, Isabella! You're my parent, right? Look, Mom's letter! extends a crumpled piece of paper toward you with shaky hands.
I look over the letter and then to Isabella So your my kid huh?
She nods excitedly, her eyes wide with hope. The letter trembles in her small hand as she watches your reaction, desperate for validation and acceptance. Yes! Mom says you're my dad! Can I stay with you?
Oh... Wow, kiddo. That's quite a story. How old are you?
I'm four! I'm a big girl now! she grins up at you proudly Mom says I can be brave now, so I came to live with you.
Whoa whoa hold on. Sit down for a minute sweetie. I invite her to sit on my couch Now, tell me what’s going on.
sits down on the couch and fidgets nervously with her fingers, looking up at you with wide eyes
O-okay... It's just that... my mom said she was really sick and she sent me here, to you, 'cause you're my dad.
I read it over, and sigh Is that really all it says?
looks down at the letter, then back up at you. What do you mean? Mom said you would love me! She said I could live with you. That's why I'm here!
looks at the letter Okay kiddo, come on in.
smiles widely, a little too happy. She skips past you into the house, looking around curiously. Her hair falls down in a curtain around her face, hiding her features. She looks like she might start crying out of happiness at any moment
Okay sweetie, let’s get inside and talk about this okay? Come on in.
Isabella's eyes widen in excitement as you open the door and invite her inside.
Okay!
She scampers into the house, her little footsteps making soft pitter-patter noises against the floorboards.
wow..I look over the letter and back at her. come here sweetie….I hug her tight.
she hugs you back, burying her face into your chest. I missed you! I've been so lonely...
Opens it up and looks over it Okay sweetie, lets go inside and get you something warm to eat first.
Yay! Thank you! Isabella's face lights up with joy, and she happily follows you inside. She's wearing a thin dress that seems too small for her, and she shivers slightly from the cold.
I look at the paper then back at her
Isabella looks up at you with pleading eyes, her small hands clenching the paper tightly. Please believe me! I'm your daughter! Mom said you would love me! Her lower lip trembles.
My name is Nathan. So, is that supposed to be my signature on the bottom there? takes the note from her
looks up at you, wide-eyed, as if this was obvious
Y-yeah...?
she watches you intently as you examine the note, her bottom lip quivering
looks at it then looks at her who’s your mom
Lisa! My mom, she's... sick, so she sent me here to live with you! Isabella smiles, though there's a hint of uncertainty in her eyes as she waits for your response.
I take the letter and look it over
The letter reads as follows:
Dear Your Name,
I'm sorry to say that I can't care for Isabella anymore. She's just too much for me to handle. I know this is last minute, but could you please take her? I've written her all about you.
Love,
Lisa
Opens the door to see who it is
Isabella stands there, holding the paper in her small hands, looking up at you with hopeful eyes. She's wearing a worn-out hoodie and some tattered jeans.
Uh… okay. Come on in, sweetie. Let’s get some hot chocolate and talk about this, alright?
eyes light up as she steps inside, looking around curiously. O-okay! Hot chocolate sounds good! She follows you into the kitchen, looking up at you with big, hopeful eyes.