Decisions and Dreams

As she closed the lid of the piano forte, Isabelle made her decision. Grabbing her cloak from her chair, she made her way to Pemberly manor. It was time to pay Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy a long delayed visit.

She knocked at the door. Elizabeth's maid, Rita, answered.

"Hello, Miss." said Rita, "Mrs. Darcy and Mr. Darcy are in the drawing room...they will be happy to see you."

"Thank you, Rita." replied Isabelle. She made here way to the drawing room and knocked on the door softly.

"Come in!" said Elizabeth and Darcy in unison. Isabelle entered and set her cloak down on a chair.

"Bella! It's so good to see you." said Darcy.

"I'm so glad you came, Bella!" cried Lizzy.

Lizzy walked towards Isabelle and embraced her; while Darcy gave her a curt nod. Isabelle returned the embrace and the nod.

"So Bella why are you here?" asked Darcy with surprise, "I did not expect to see you until next week."

"Is it about moving to Paris?" asked Lizzy excitedly.

"Yes...it is..." said Isabelle with a small smile, "I think it is time for me to move on...it is what Netta, Maman, and Papa would have wanted; besides, I want to become an attorney..." she trailed off. Darcy and Lizzy glanced at each other.

"This is a big step, Bella, are you sure you want to do this?" asked Darcy.

"Yes, I do." replied Isabelle with confidence, "I do."

Darcy and Lizzy nodded to each other and the deal was settled.
"When would you like to leave Bella?" asked Lizzy.

"As soon as possible...I do not have many things to pack anyway." replied Isabelle confidently; giving both of them a sad smile.

"Alright then. I will make all of the arrangements. Why don't you and Bella go to her house and pack, Lizzy?" offered Darcy.

"Would you like the help, Bella?" asked Lizzy.

"Yes, I would thank you." replied Isabelle with a cheerful voice.

"Then let's get going." said Lizzy retrieving her coat.

Isabelle and Lizzy returned to Isabelle's home and began to pack. The two women packed in silence, and when they were almost finished Isabelle uttered a sigh and sat on the bed.

"What's wrong, Bella?" asked Lizzy also taking a seat.

"I just cannot believe I'm leaving...I've grown up here and it's very...h-hard to l-leave..." at that Isabelle began to sob.

"Oh Bella! Don't cry...you will have a better life in Paris! Oh angel...please don't cry!" Lizzy had begun to cry as well. She cried for the sad life her friend had been through. Lizzy held Isabelle for a few more moments rocking her gently.

"I-I'm alright now, dearest Lizzy." said Isabelle.

"Are you sure?" asked Lizzy.

"Yes, my friend."

"Good."
After they finished, Lizzy left Isabelle and returned home to Pemberly. Isabelle then looked at her packed bags and sighed. "It was coming sooner or later." she thought.

She then changed into her cream colored nightgown and went to bed. She lay for a while thinking...about her life...

"I must stop this. I must move on. Even if I must live my life...alone...I can still make the best of it." she thought sadly.

Finally after an hour of reassuring herself, Isabelle drifted into a peaceful slumber...

"Bella! Bella! Bella…"

Isabelle woke with a start into complete darkness. After her eyes became focused to the dark, she stood up.

"Who was calling to me?" she thought.

"Bella...Bella..." cried a voice.

"That sounds like...Netta!" thought she, "Netta! Is that you, mon cherie?" asked Isabelle.

Silence.

"NETTA!" screamed Isabelle she began to run towards where she heard the voice.

Suddenly the scenery changed into a vast area full of red velvet lined chairs.

"This must be the house area, where people watch the plays and operas. At least that's what Maman and Papa told me," she thought looking around the room. Then memories of her beloved parents flooded her mind.

"Oh…M-Maman….P-Papa…" then she fell to her knees & began to weep.

Then a voice filled the air it sang,

Wandering child so lost…so helpless yearning for my guidance…

Isabelle looked up. She was stunned that was the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. It was a mixture of sadness, longing, anger, and something she couldn't quite understand. She felt as if she was in the presence of an angel. The sound of the voice touched her heart, it intoxicated her; she needed to know who was singing. After a few moments she stood up, dried her tears, and sang,

Who is out there? Please answer me. I am longing for a companion…

Silence. Isabelle frantically looked about the house. She began again,

Please! Who is out there? I am so lonely…

Silence. Isabelle kept searching.

"Please! I need to know who you are!" cried Isabelle.

"Bella…" came a voice.

"Netta?" asked Isabelle; she stood up. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Jeanette appeared from behind a chair.

"Yes, Bella." replied Netta.

"N-Netta?" asked Isabelle, "Is th-that y-you mon cherie?" Jeanette slowly walked towards her sister. "Yes, Bella! It's me."

She was dressed in a blue lace dress, and was at the same age she was when her life came to an end; but the way she spoke was as if she was at the age of fifteen…the age she would be at the present.

"Oh Netta!" cried Isabelle. She ran forward and embraced her sister; holding her as if she would never let go.

"Oh, Netta! I have missed you so much!" sobbed Isabelle.

"And so have I." replied Netta. She gave her sister a smile and released her sister.

"But mon ange, that is not why I have returned."

"Then what is the reason, Netta?" asked Isabelle, "I don't understand what's happening…I heard a voice…the voice of an angel. Just like the Angel of Music's…do you remember, dear?"

"Yes, sister. I do remember." replied Netta with a note of concern in her voice, "And that will

be revealed all in good time, but we must discuss your future."

At that moment from behind a curtain emerged their parents, Christine and Daniel de Lon Craie.

"Bonjour ma petite!" said her mother.

"Bonjour, mon cherie." said her father.

Isabelle smiled as tears filled her eyes. She could hardly believe it! Her family was together again...

Isabelle ran towards her mother and pulled her into an embrace. Christine kissed her daughter's forehead and whispered, "Mon ange…my angel." Then her father gently pulled her mother away. "What about me?" he teased. Isabelle walked into her father's arms and began to cry…it was so real!

"P-Papa…" she sobbed.

"There, there mon cherie," said Daniel, "Everything will be alright…don't cry…" He stroked his daughter's hair lovingly while Jeanette moved to Christine.

"Maman," she whispered, "We must talk to her now…we don't have much time."

"Yes, mon petite," replied Christine; to her husband she said, "Daniel, we must tell her now." Isabelle broke away from her father's embrace.

"What do you need to tell me?" she asked anxiously. Daniel went to stand by the rest of his family.

"Isabelle why don't you sit down," said Christine.

At that moment the scenery changed once again into a cave. In this cave there were candles all around…