AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA
I feel it before I see it. That sick, crawling pressure behind my eyes, the kind that means the story has decided something for me again. My vision glitches.
"SYSTEM EVENT TRIGGERED. CHAPTER 6: 'FAMILY INTERVENTION'. EVENT TYPE: FORCED SOCIAL CONFRONTATION. PLAYER CONSENT: NOT REQUIRED." The system announces.
"No." I whisper under my breath. "You are joking."
The cafe door opens and 'my' mother walks in first. Perfect posture, perfect hair. That sharp, assessing gaze that never looks at you only at what you represent. My father follows, coat neat, expression already mildly displeased, as if the room itself has inconvenienced him. Original Bella's parents. Alive, real, and completely convinced I am still their daughter. My mother spots me immediately.
"Bella."She said.
Just like that, no hesitation, no doubt. She walks over, heels clicking like punctuation marks of authority, and stops directly in front of my table.
