I came out of shower and saw Isabelle's phone's screen flashing, indicating that someone was yet again calling her and I huffed and went near it.

Yesterday when she collapsed on the floor, her phone fell and when I picked her up I picked her phone too and put it in my pocket.

Since then, it had been in my jacket which I realised later last night when I came back home.

Her phone was blowing up with texts and call since morning and I figured that people must be offering their condolences.

I noted to give her the phone back first thing when I'd get to see her at the funeral today.

The phone started ringing again and I decided to turn it off before I'd throw it at a wall in this new found anger I couldn't seem to bring down.

I saw a picture of the same boy I met when I dropped drunk Isabelle at her home, flashing on the screen.

I sighed and picked the call up because the amount of times he had called since morning showed how desperate he was and in addition to that he was Isabelle's best friend so I think he deserved to know everything and why she wasn't picking up his calls.

"Hello? Belle are you okay?" he said as soon as I picked the call up.

"Um yeah I'm not sure she is..." I trailed and scratched my neck as I cursed my socialising skills.

"Woah who is this and what did you do to Isabelle?"

"I'm her boss. We've met once before when I dropped her off...."

"Oh. Are you with her right now?" he asked.

"No. I accidentally brought her phone home last night," I told him everything about how she collapsed right in front of my eyes and how she wouldn't talk to me.

"Thank you," he said, his voice was relieved.

"What for?"

"For looking after her yesterday," he explained.

"Yeah. Alright then..." I said and was about to cut the call when he spoke again.

"Hey, Ace?"

"Yeah?"

"I tried but the earliest flight that I can get back to States is tomorrow morning. Will you please take care of her. I'm pretty sure she'll listen to you more than anyone else there," his voice was pleading and it confused me even more as to why would she listen to her boss who's throwing orders at her most of the time and making her life hell.

"Yes, of course," I told him and he thanked me before cutting the call.

I walked into my walk-in-closet and took out a suit to where at the funeral.

This day was going to be hard.

***************

The first thing I noticed when I entered the church was Isabelle sitting in the front row, wearing a black dress. I took a seat on the opposite side so I could look her at by just turning my head sideways.

The ceremony started and father started giving the sermon.

I noticed how Isabelle had her head down and she wasn't listening to what the father was saying, she wasn't bothering to see who was coming and who not, she there but her mind was someplace else.

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

-2 Corinthians 4:17-18"

*****************

After the ceremony ended, I stood up and made my way to Isabelle who was just standing there in a corner, staring at nothing.

I noticed how there were bags underneath her eyes and all the light that once shone her face was gone. She looked pale and it seemed as if was falling into her despair.

I was on an arm distance from her and she still hadn't noticed my presence there.

"Isabelle?"

She looked up at me, her eyes empty and void and her face devoid of any emotion.

"Good evening Mr. Rhodes," she said, her voice was so distant, it pained my heart to witness her like this.

I went closer to her, close enough that I could smell her scent.

"Are you okay?" I asked and took a step even more close so that our faces were inches apart.

"I'm fine," she lied so smoothly. Like she expected me to believe that.

Without saying anything else, I took one last step and wrapped my arm around her waist, slightly pulling her towards me. I knew that I probably was crossing my lines but I could not let her fall in that despair. I didn't know if she knew how to pull herself out of that. I didn't know if anyone would be able to pull her out of that if it's too late.

So I had keep her from falling deeper into it.

She looked up at me, our eyes met and I lifted my hand up and cupped her cheek. She kept looking deep into my eyes and I into hers. It seemed like she was holding back something, like she was trying to hold it back but was failing at it.

And then, I saw an emotion cross her eyes. After that there it was, each and every emotion came back into her eyes as I kept my eyes locked with her.

Fear, vulnerability, sorrow, grief.

Her eyes started welling up with tears and before I knew, she hid her head in my chest and started crying hysterically as I lightly stroked her hair. It seemed like she exploded and whatever emotions she was bottling up tumbled out in a jumble of sorrow, vulnerability and heartbreak as she cried in my chest.

"Shhhh....I know this is hard. But you're strong Isabelle, I know you'll get through this," I whispered to her and kept her close to my chest.

"I can't. I can't," she said in a muffled voice as she sobbed in my chest.

I held her face in both of my hands and made her look at me,

"Isabelle, here look at me. You are strong and I know no matter how hard it gets, you'll cope with it, okay?" I kissed her forehead and she buried her face in the crook of my neck once again.

"Come on, let's go home."

***********

Isabelle fell asleep in my arms while going back to her place so when we were outside her house, I picked her up in my arms and walked into her house.

Her eyelids flickered as I carried her all the way to her room and she snuggled deeper into my chest, making me suck in a deep breath to keep my wild emotions at bay.

I laid her down on the bed and sat down beside her. She somehow found my hand and held it close to her chest, making sure that I was sitting right beside her that made me smile.

I sat there staring at her as she peacefully slept beside me.

After a while, her eyes opened and she looked straight at me. I expected her to feel embarrassed or even uncomfortable that I was sitting beside her this whole time and she was unconsciously holding my hand while sleeping but much to my surprise, her face broke into a breathtaking smile.

She sat up and leaned back on the headrest, still holding my hand in one hand.

"I'm gonna order food. You must be hungry," I said and she looked at me again and nodded as she lightly let go of my hand.

I made my way downstairs to order some food for both of us.

After almost fifteen minutes of waiting, the food arrived and I carried all the things in my hands, making my way upstairs to Isabelle's room.

I entered her room and saw her sitting there, holding her head in hands. I went nearer and placed the food on the bedside table before taking both of her hands in mine and making her look at me.

"You feel like talking about it?" I asked and rubbed my thumb in circles at the back of her hand.

She kept looking at me with an expression that was hard to decipher but her eyes were locked with mine with an intensity so deep that I couldn't bring myself to tear my gaze away even if I wanted to.

"I'll be fine," she said after what seemed like an eternity and leaned back on the bed as I nodded my head and held out the coffee towards her.

After forcing her to eat something and making sure that she wasn't going to throw up, I let her sleep and was currently sitting at the edge of her bed, just staring at her while she slept.

It was past midnight and I knew that I was supposed to go now but I just couldn't bring myself to leave her when I knew that no matter how hard she was trying not to show it, she was lonely and breaking inside.

But I had to leave. Even if I wanted not to, I had to.

So I stood up and edged closer to her. I kissed her forehead, my lips lingering longer than necessary and was about to leave when she grabbed my hand.

I turned around and saw her staring at me with sleepy eyes.

"Stay," she whispered so lightly that I wasn't sure if it was real or if my ears were playing tricks on me.

"Isabelle....."

"Please," was all she had to say before I found myself sliding in next to her and adjusting the duvet on both of us.

***********