Liam Bridges <[email protected]> 14:11 (29 minutes ago)

I'm delighted to be able to let you know that the article is finished! It has just been published online and already, the supportive comments and responses have been overwhelming. I've attached the link below. I really hope that this has done you justice, and I look forward to hearing from you soon, and seeing you in the near future. 

All the best, Liam.

Isabelle clicked on the link, anticipation rising within her. 

As the webpage loaded, her eyes were drawn immediately to the mention of her name. "It's real. It's really happening," she whispered to herself. 

Without speaking again, she began to read. 

REMAINS; an article by Liam Bridges.

43 hours, and 26 casualties. Nobody could predict the deadly terror attack that devastated a local store. Nor could they predict the bullets that destroyed people and their relations, their courage and their pride. Nobody foresaw the threat that held them hostage within a supermarket for almost two days, or the fear that would be with them forever. 

Out of the 27 that were present for the event, only one survived. 

Isabelle Hawthorne, 24, was the only survivor of the local terrorist attack in 2014 that threw the town into chaos. At the time, she was 19 years of age and only just adjusting to a life away from her parents, she was thrust into the event that would shape her into a different person; the person she has become today. 

On the 22nd of July, 2014, Isabelle ventured from her home to the local supermarket to pick up a few things for a friend. Whilst shopping, the first gunshots were fired and she fled to the wine aisles where she hid for the first part of the event. 

During her time there, she briefly met and then witnessed the death of Elijah Bridges, who was killed by the assailant, Viktor Solov. Isabelle was then shot in the left leg and threatened profusely. Solov then left her to bleed, still in the wine aisles, where she remained for hours. 

Another elderly woman, Marjorie Banks, was murdered in front of Isabelle, which confirmed to her "this wasn't just a night terror anymore. This was real." 

Soon, Isabelle fought her way to the medicinal aisle where she began to gather supplies to mend the bullet wound in her leg, when she came across Thomas Carter, a young boy who had already lost his mother amidst the event. 

Before Isabelle could reach him, however, the two were caught by Solov, who gave Isabelle the choice of who he would kill, along with taunting her with malicious threats of rape and assault. "I could do whatever I want to you and you would have no power to stop me," he said, "here's what's going to happen. I'm going to use this gun and shoot either you or him with it. Who is it going to be? You choose." 

Isabelle was not given a chance to decide before Solov shot Thomas Carter and beat Isabelle to the ground. Once he left, Isabelle cradled the dying body of the young boy, gently encouraging him to hold on. However, there was nothing she could do, and she had to move on. 

It was in the cereal aisle that she found what had been done to the remainder of the shoppers. The lifeless bodies were enough to send her into a state of unconsciousness for many hours. 

As she awoke, Solov pulled her to her feet and dragged her towards the store entrance where the armed authorities were waiting. After a heinous speech, Solov released Isabelle and shot himself in the head, bringing the final death toll to 26.

Isabelle endured intensive therapy following the event, but the terrorist attack had impacted her in ways that were unimaginable. She was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and five years on, she still suffers from the consequences of Solov's actions. 

"The truth is," Isabelle admits, "even though the bullet left a mark, the impact was nothing compared to the damage mentally."

As I came to know Isabelle Hawthorne, I came to realise that true acts of courage can be found anywhere and within anyone. It illustrates that just because something truly terrible happens, it does not stop you being the hero that you were meant to be.

As Isabelle finished reading, she was stunned into silence. She continue scrolling, finding the comments. 

Comments (11): 

Jenny M: It is truly incredible how someone can survive such a devastating tragedy and still find the strength to stay here. Isabelle is an example of true bravery. 

Rosalind D: This has moved me to tears.

Daniel C: The fact that anyone would commit such an extreme act of hatred or supremacy is terrible. To have survived something like that and kept on going for five years is an amazing feat.

John N: Everybody needs to see this. Such a moving story deserves to be heard. 

Sarah S: Nothing can justify what this man has done. It sickens me to know that there are others like Viktor Solov out there. 

Megan R: I feel awful for the families of the people that died. It must be terrible to have to endure something so painful.

James F: I think Elijah was Liam's brother. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Angela W: Whenever I see a shooting on the news, it always feels so far away, and almost like it's not quite real. Reading this has made it seem so much more real, as if hearing about someone's own experience has just brought a new sense of awareness. 

Charles B: I've been through my own struggles, and seeing someone be open about them like Isabelle has is really inspiring. She's right about the mental scars being worse than the physical ones. Just reading this has made me emotional, and seeing how supportive everyone is being has really influenced my mindset on how I see things.

Cora H: I know someone who has been through something similar, and I know how hard it can be to move on from these things. Isabelle, if you ever see this, I believe in you, and I'm sure that it might feel like you're alone, but it's the opposite. Nobody is ever alone and absolutely no one deserves to suffer in silence. I'm so proud of you for speaking out and I wish you all the best for your future. 

Sadie R: Isabelle, if you're reading this, I'm sorry. I miss you. 

Isabelle's breath hitched when she read the last comment. 

Sadie? She thought, she still cares? 

Isabelle read over Sadie's comment a few more times, before bursting into tears. The supportive comments had really meant a lot to her, but seeing that Sadie was still thinking about her was what sent her over the edge. 

Isabelle was shocked. 

First, it was the article, and then it was the support she was receiving. 

I can't believe that after all this time, Sadie still cares about me. I shouldn't have pushed her away. I shouldn't have let her go. Oh, God, Sadie I miss you too. 

Isabelle sobbed, wishing that she could turn back the clock and do things differently. 

Wait, it's not too late, she thought, looking up, spying her landline phone, maybe it's time to make things right. I want to fix things. 

Isabelle shakily stood, inching towards the phone. As she reached it, she picked it up and dialled Sadie's number with trembling fingers. 

Please don't tell me she's changed her number. 

Isabelle brought the phone to her ear as it dialled. It rang, and rang, and rang. 

"Hey, it's Sadie. Sorry I couldn't pick up the phone right now, but leave a message!" 

The sound of a beep could be heard, and Isabelle began to speak. 

"Sadie? Hey, it's Isabelle. I'm not sure if you even wanted to hear from me but I saw your comment on Liam's article. I just wanted to say that, well, I really miss you too. I hate myself for pushing you away and I shouldn't have, because I really regret it, and I never realised until now that I needed a friend to help me through this. I get it if you don't want to be around me, because who the hell would? I'm just really pathetic and I can't help but take it out on others, and I know now how hard that can be to deal with. For the longest time, I always felt so alone, but right now, I've never felt more like I'm on my own. I just want things to be the way they were, but I can't do it without you. It's taken far too long, but I think I'm finally ready to take that step. I miss you so much, so please, please call me back. I just want my best friend back." 

After she had spoken, she hung up. Her voice had been laced with weakness and cracks as she lamented, on the verge of more tears. 

However, she felt like a massive weight had been lifted from her. She glanced down at the phone that was still in her hand. 

Without thinking, she dialled another number and lifted the phone to her ear. 

Again, it rang to voicemail. After the beep, Isabelle spoke. 

"Mom? Mom, I really messed up. I've been suffering by myself for so long and only now do I realise that I could have done things so differently. I'm sorry I didn't let you or dad help me, but I was in such a dark place that I couldn't tell the difference between sympathy and meaningless pity. Now, it's been five years and I think I'm finally prepared to try and help myself. I'm finally willing to let others help me. Whenever you can, I really want to reconnect with you. I wouldn't be able to bear to have something else happen and I never made an effort. Especially with what happened with dad. I feel awful that he's gone now, and I have no chance of restoring my relationship with him. Mom, if you even get this, please get back to me. I love you."

As she hung up, Isabelle quickly slammed the phone onto the table, immediately beginning to loudly weep.
I never thought I would speak to my mother again. I never thought I would tell her I love her again. Yet, here we are.

She rubbed her face, trying to erase the salty trails of tears that had slid down her reddened cheeks.

Isabelle slowly came to realise she was finally facing change within herself.

Who would have thought that I would end up making calls to my loved ones? Who would have thought that my perspective would start to shift?

Who would have thought that this was all because of a journalist?

I used to think I was worth nothing. I thought that I should have died that day. At times, I wanted death, because it would have been a hell of a lot better than the pain I was enduring. I never believed that I would stop suffering. It was as if my torment would go on forever, never letting me free from the clutches of anxiety and self-hatred.

But now?

Now, maybe I'm finally breaking free.

I've spent the last five years living in darkness, an abyss of a great depression that blinded me.

I'm ready now. I'm ready to step into the light and embrace the warmth of freedom.