"SPOILED" HIT ME LIKE... YOU KNOW WHEN YOU OPEN A PRESENT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS VERY CLEARLY WHAT YOU WANT, BECAUSE YOU TOLD THEM, YOU WROTE IT IN YOUR LETTERS TO SANTA, AND THEN YOU CIRCLED THE PICTURES IN THE CATALOG? AND YOU ARE JUST CERTAIN THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN THAT FOR YOU, BECAUSE YOU'VE WAITED SO PATIENTLY FOR IT AND THEY'VE HINTED AT IT AND THE BOX IS EVEN THE SAME SIZE, BUT THEN YOU OPEN IT UP AND IT'S SOCKS? THAT'S THE UTTER DISAPPOINTMENT I FEEL HERE FOR IZZY. THE BUILD UP HERE IS PERFECT, SHE GOES FROM BEING THIS MANIPULATIVE LITTLE PRINCESS WHO CURTSIES TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS BUT CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO SHOW UP FOR CLASS (AND I LOVE THE TOUCH OF THE RED DYE, TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE ILLUSTRATION IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL), TO MAKING SUCH AN EXTRA EFFORT WITH MISS HELENA COMES BACK. IT BREAKS MY HEART EVEN MORE FOR HER, BECAUSE SHE JUST KNEW THAT SOMETHING GOOD WAS COMING HER WAY, AND THEN SHE GETS SOCKS A STUPID FIANCE. HOMEWRECKER! HE SHOULD JUST GO AWAY!!!!!

(EXCEPT NOT, BECAUSE YOU KNOW I LOVE IT. AND BECAUSE IT SETS UP THIS ENDING.)

THIS ENDING.

*READS AND TRIES TO BREATHE*

WOW.

*STARES AT THE ILLUSTRATION* *BREAKS*

WOW.

THIS IS POWERFUL. I LOVE HOW WELL THIS FITS WITH THE ISABELLE WE KNOW - HERE SHE'S THIS LITTLE GIRL WHO'S TRIED SO HARD TO BE PERFECT, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW SHE'S GOING TO BE LOVED, AND WHO REALISES THAT IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. AND SO RATHER THAN GIVE UP THE PERFECTION AND GO FOR BEING LOVED IN OTHER WAYS, SHE GIVES UP THE LOVE AND SETS HER SIGHTS ON WHAT SHE THINKS WILL BE EASIER TO ATTAIN. OH IZZY.

"Isabelle came clear again, no longer a blurry jumble of colours but still fragile." I'VE LOST WORDS AGAIN AND AM BACK TO "WOW" BECAUSE YOU'VE PAINTED THIS SCENE SO BEAUTIFULLY. AND IT HURTS BECAUSE HER DETERMINATION IS SO STRONG, AND YOU KNOW THAT SHE NEVER LET IT FALTER UNTIL SHE MET THAT STUPID IDIOT BEN STEINKAMP AND ACTUALLY THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT LOVE HER FOR WHO SHE WAS. AND SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD HAVE LOVE AND PERFECTION, BUT WAS PROVED WRONG ONCE AGAIN. AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY.

EXCEPT IN A GOOD WAY. IN A MUCH LOVED WAY, BECAUSE, MYSTERY AUTHOR, YOU PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW CLOSE THESE INSIGHTS COME TO MY HEART. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE GIFT. I AM OVERWHELMED BY THE POWER OF YOUR STORYTELLING AND THE BEAUTY OF YOUR PICTURES. I FEEL SO SPOILED AND HAPPY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT WHO YOU ARE SO I CAN SQUEAL IN YOUR EAR AT (EVEN MORE) LENGTH.

EXCUSE ME, NOW, I HAVE TO GO FIND MY CAT!