Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened.

Don't Worry, Things Get Better. I Promise.

When I Say I'm OK, I Sometimes Wish Someone Would Hold Me Tight And Say, "I Know Your Not."

Overalls Are Really, Truly, Pretty Snazzy. 

Isabel followed her shadow into the dark alleyway. She had been tracking it for some time now, and was positive that she would catch it any second. She had first noticed the thing to be acting strange when she was on the basketball court with her friends in gym. Mallory, her dear friend, was contemplating wearing pink converse high tops to the dance that Friday, or sticking with her traditional blue Toms. To fully choose, Mallory had worn the converse to show her friends and get their opinions. So, obviously, everyone was staring at the ground; more specifically at her shoes. Isabel looked at the shoes, shaking her head and moaning, wishing that she had parents who owned a clothing store chain just like Mallory’s did so that she too could get a high enough allowance to buy those shoes. But, everyone knew, not only could Mallory’s allowance buy those shoes, but they could buy them two times over and still be left with enough to catch a movie with some friends. The perks of being filthy rich!

As Isabel stared at the ground some more, barely listening to the conversation Mallory was now having about her hair, she saw someone strange on the ground. It was her shadow. It was facing the opposite direction of her friends shadows around her. She looked left and right to make sure no one was staring. She didn’t want people to think she was weird because of this. But, as she stared more closely at her shadow, she felt a chill crawl up her spine like a creepy, fuzzy spider on its web. She wanted to know what was going on, and how this was happening. The dark shadow seemed to stare back at her, and although she couldn’t see its eyes, she could almost feel them glaring at her. And, between blinks, Isabel saw the shadow shake its head ‘no.’ Apparently, the shadow didn’t want to tell Isabel what was going on. But, Isabel being Isabel, however shocked she was feeling, would not go down without a fight.

After school, Isabel rushed home without even stopping at Starbucks for her regular after-school latte. She knew she would pay for it when she failed to stay up late writing her report for history that night without the extra caffeine boost, but the essay wasn’t on her top to-do and to-care-about lists at the moment. Right then, all she could care about was her strange acting shadow. 

As Isabel threw open her front door, she flew up the stairs and into her bedroom. A good thing about her room was that it had a large window. And, that window welcomed a whole bunch of sunlight into her room, especially on a day like today. Isabel placed her bag and phone onto the bed, and stepped into the sunlight’s rays, making sure her whole body was covered. When she looked down, she saw shadow, which seemed to be staring right back at her. Isabel, on instinct, lifted her right hand and waved it in the air. Her shadow waved back. Just like normal. Isabel jumped up in the air, and her shadow copied the exact motion. Finally, Isabel picked up an umbrella lying on the ground under her desk, and grasped it tightly in her hands. She took a deep breath, and hardly poked her shadows head with the tip of the umbrella. Two things happened then. One, Isabel felt a sharp pain in her forehead, and two, the shadow- her shadow- slipped out from underneath her. To her, it felt like someone pulling a rug from beneath where she was standing. So, Isabel fell hard to the ground. She looked up at the window, and saw her shadow, looking very overpowering now that it wasn’t shadowing her, lifting up the window’s glass by itself. Isabel quickly jumped up and ran a couple strides to the window. But, just as she outreached her hand to grab the mysterious shadow, it was gone. She looked out the window, and down on the sidewalk saw one of the strangest things possible: a shadow with no person. Her shadow was officially running away. 

Isabel, relying again on instinct, sprinted out of her room, down the stairs, and out the front door. She looked at the place where the shadow was lying just a few brief seconds ago to find it not there, but farther away. Immediately, Isabel began sprinting after her shadow. Not only did she not know what she was going to do once she caught the shadow, but how she was going to explain this to meaningless bystanders and her vivid imagination. 

She had run a few blocks past her street when the shadow tried to trick her. It crossed the street, causing her to sprint through the traffic to the other side, where it watched her all the while as it was perched in the tree like a kite. Once Isabel got nearer, the shadow jumped up and resumed its chase. The weird thing about the shadow was that it didn’t run, it sort of slid along the sidewalk in a running position it’s head facing the trees, and its feet facing the street. 

On and on the shadow went, going more slowly now as Isabel gasped for breath. It seemed to be tired just as she was. But, it kept going, always staying one step further ahead of Isabel’s grasp, until they reached the alleyway. 

Isabel felt as close to the shadow than anytime before when she was chasing it. And, part of that reason was because the shadow was coming to a stop at the brick wall that was also the end of the alley. Isabel felt a smile crawl across her face, which immediately diminished once she saw another reason the shadow stopped. Standing against the brick wall was a tall man with a large dark overcoat, and large sunglasses seeming very suspicious. Very suspicious indeed. 

Now that she was only a few feet away from the figure, Isabel halted and stared at the figure. The man, she concluded the gender by his physique, had placed his hand into his overcoat and was pulling the overcoat out as if about to show Isabel something. Isabel knew she should run, expecting to see a gun, but stayed where she was frightened and intrigued. Isabel felt as though the man being positioned there and her shadow running to the exact place were no coincidences. And, she seemed to be correct as the man opened his jacket to show darkness, causing Isabel to relax only a slight bit. But, as he opened his jacket, her shadow jumped off the ground and got sucked into the mans jacket. Then, the man spoke.

“Who are you and why has your shadowed released itself of your presence?” the man asked in a burly, strong voice that could only belong to a man of many adventures, one who enjoyed telling stories and did so frequently. He also seemed like the type of many who liked answers swiftly and did not appreciate waiting. Even so, Isabel just stared at the man, shocked and confused. Her shadow released itself? From her presence? What did this all mean? She did not know. 

“I’m waiting for an answer young lady,” the man said very firmly and with a hint of anger brewing inside him.

“My shadow released itself from me? What do you mean? I saw it acting strangely, and I hit it with an umbrella and it somehow got away. Who are you? And, where have you placed my shadow?” Isabel countered back to the man. He had not expected such rudeness from someone whose shadow he possessed. He was supposed to have the upper hand, but instead felt as though the girl had it.

“The answers to your questions are none of your business. Your shadow is in good hands now. Tell me your name so that I may record it for future observation and communication if needed. Or, just run along and leave me be,” the man said. He didn’t really need her name, and was almost certain that she wasn’t the one, and was of very little importance. 

“No! Give me my shadow. You have no right-“ Isabel began but the man stopped her.

“I have every right. Your shadow ran away from you, meaning that you mistreated it in some way. It is in my authority now,” the man concluded.

“And, what kind of authority is that?” Isabel asked, expecting something of not great authority. The man looked down at his watch, obviously seeming too busy to want to answer her silly questions. 

“Fine. My name is Isabel Creek. And, I wish for you to return my shadow to me as well as an explanation and apology for the hassle that you put me through,” Isabel huffed and puffed, finally turning away. In her mind, she wanted to leave with some upper hand and dignity. Maybe she would forget about her shadow, and everything would be fine. Maybe. 

She turned away and began walking out of the alley. The man smiled as he watched her go, never having encountered someone with so much attitude. Although, he had never encountered anyone that old, that smart, or cunning enough to follow their shadow all the way to him before. She was very interesting in her own way, he thought. But, as he saw her step into the light and the sidewalk, he gasped. Somehow, in some strange, unknown way, the girl had a new shadow. The man felt her old one squirm within his jacket, proving that this situation was more peculiar than he had labeled it. Quickly, he began to follow the girl out, knowing that he wasn’t to stop until he had Isabel Creek in his custody, and had the answers.