The Rift

Chapter 6

**This chapter deals with themes of alcohol and mental illness. May not be suitable for younger audiences.**

An aroma slithered into the air. It was sweet and succulent, making the mouth water upon taking in the scent. In its prime state of ripeness, the yellow fruit teased anyone to bite into its flesh. A wooden spoon violently smashed it to pieces. Anna watched in concern and sipped her red wine as Marie continued to mash bananas. "What did they ever do to you?" the queen asked behind her wine glass.

"They aren't in my stomach as banana bread yet, that's what they did!" Marie paused to blow a strand of brown hair out of her own face. "I mean, did you understand any of what Grand Pabbie said?!"

"Not really." Anna was sitting on the marble counter and kicking her stocking feet aimlessly. She polished off her glass and hopped to the floor. "But I believe in my sister, and she believes in you, so I'm not worried." She stared down at the bowl of ingredients in front of Marie. They were in the castle kitchen. Rows of stainless-steel utensils lined the walls and marble countertops shone proudly in the light of the various lit torches around the room. Marie had insisted on baking as a distraction, and Anna had pulled out some expensive wine to add to the event. Anna eyed Marie. "You, on the other hand, I am a little concerned about."

Marie attempted to push a loose strand of hair under the blue bandana wrapped around her crown. "Girl, I'm concerned with myself every day." Anna snorted before both women laughed loudly. Marie gestured for Anna to crack the eggs. "Where is Elsa, anyway?"

"She's taking a bath." With rosy cheeks from the wine, Anna gave Marie a coy look and raised her eyebrows. Marie rolled her eyes but smiled, mashing the bananas even more. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Do you like women?"

Marie paused, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Hm...Well, my first love was actually my best friend, but I've only ever been with men." A soft chuckle escaped her. "But you wanna know something? I didn't fall in love with my friend for her looks. I fell in love with her. Does that make sense?" Marie flinched when Anna began to sniffle. "Why are you crying?!"

"That's so beautiful!" Anna wiped a tear away dramatically. "Can I use that in my wedding vows? "I fell in love not with your looks, but with you."" She mimicked writing it down in the air. "So, what happened? Did something keep you apart?"

Marie grew still. "Religion did...and so did I." Anna let out a sympathetic gasp. "I was young and stupid, thinking God would hate me for having these feelings I couldn't control. But I let it destroy our friendship. But I'm not bitter. It led me down the path I had to take to become better. I'm still on that path, too. It's hard, but necessary." Marie lifted her head back in exasperation. "There I go again, spilling my guts out of nowhere..."

"No wonder you and Elsa get along so well. You're both so deep." The sound of liquid sloshing against glass met Marie's ear, and Anna offered her a glass. "I should go check on her. She's been in there a while with that other bottle." Anna hummed while leaving the kitchen, her demeanor light and peppy.

Marie smiled and continued prepping the bread. She sipped the dark wine, immediately tasting the richness and age. "Damn," she muttered. Due to a combination of exhaustion and hunger, the wine only took a couple minutes to kick in. The woman set the bread pan filled with batter into a fire-lit oven. "You call me your banana..." Marie finished her glass and grabbed the wooden spoon, dramatically using it as a pretend microphone. "I don't care what they say. I'm in love with you. They try to pull me away, but they don't know the truth. My heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing." Her first soprano voice echoed around the kitchen. She pointed at the oven. "You call me your banana! I keeeep bleedin', I keep, keep bleedin' love!" She finished the chorus and ended with the famous riff, her voice rising in the air in a pleasant tone.