BRUISES

| Six |

We both decide to sit in the back of the room and watch as more people enter. I turn away when I recognize familiar faces from my old school. Bodies surrounding me weep and in force of habit, I clench onto the crumbled tissue in my hand.

Sometimes, I catch myself glancing towards the casket but avoiding Rubies face. I just watch people kneel down in front of her body and pray. One woman is sobbing on another woman's lap. Her black hair covering her face like a curtain while she doesn't care how loud she is.

A bitter taste lingers in the back of my throat. I want to blink away the tears blurring my view, but I don't have the strength to do. I'm as still as Rubies.

"This can't be real." Clarry begins, watching all the mourners in the crowded room. "I'm going to be sick." She chokes out a wince. "This is a dream." She cries into her worn out tissue. Her blue eyes are even bluer with tears of glass. Her orange hair has fallen over her face, the clip on the side giving out.

Stiffly, I place my hand over hers and give it a gentle squeeze.

Hearing her cries makes way of my own. I crumble and begin to mourn with the others. I spot Rubies white face and the pink blush across her face.

Her pin straight hair resting over her shoulders. Her gel nails the color of mahogany red she always praised to. Her lips tinted with an off pink to match her cheeks.

What photo did they use?
I turn my head and stop midway when I see a familiar face on the other side of the room. Her head is held firm and there is a faint frown on her red lips. She doesn't notice me because it's overly crowded, but I can perfectly see her, and nothing has changed.

None of us have changed.

Penny is standing beside a tall, large man. He must be her boyfriend that she occasionally posts on social media. Her arms are in front of her and her hands are intertwined with each other. Her brown eyes are glued to Rubies smooth complexion.

Suddenly, someone comes to view and her lip begins to quiver and her eyes crease. She wraps her arms around the person and starts to cry. I don't recognize her, so I look away, too difficult for me to watch.

Penny and Rubies are childhood neighbors. It wasn't until Penny went to college out of state and stopped being close with her. It was always Penny and Rubies. Or Rubies and Penny. They would always protect each other. The entire school knew it.

I knew it.

"Is that Penny?" Clarry mutters into my ear and I nod. I stare down at my knees then at my black boots. "Do you think she saw us?"
I wipe the bottom of my eyes to make sure my mascara didn't run. I sniffle and jut my chin out. "Probably."

Clarry sighs and from then on, I have a feeling that returning home isn't going to be a few days. Maybe Rubies did this because she knew this was the final attempt to bring us back. To have the closure she questioned and something we never had.

I'm in peace for the time being. Closing out the cries and the small talks. Watching Rubies older sister walk around to people and thank them for coming. I tilt my head to the side and catch myself staring. How is she coping so well while her mother is sinking?

Clarry begins talking to somebody from our school and all I do is wave a hello. I have no desire to talk to anybody because there is nothing to say. Especially after Rubies Father told me that he's proud. How can I look at someone in the face—while Rubies dead body is in front of us and talk about my life?

I'm here to sit and not talk and mourn like the others. I poke at my bruise and hope it says a few more days longer. Now that I am well to stare at Rubies body without crying, I try to count any bruises on her pale arms.

Zero.

The mortuary cosmetologist must've covered them up. Or many because Rubies is dead so that means the blood was drained out of her body. So, the bruises that lingered eventually went away because she isn't internally bleeding anymore. She is finally at rest.

I clear my throat and lean back in my seat, it's that time in the wake when the room gets quiet and no one else enters. There's another one at night but I did overhear the family going back to their home to rest before returning for another hysterical round.

My phone buzzes in my purse and I completely ignore it because nothing right now matters. Rubies non-existent presence is what is bringing a shutter down my spine. I glance up when a figure approaches me and its Rubies sister, Annabella.

"Hey," She forces out and I quickly stand. Clarry ends her conversation with the old classmate and follows suit.

"I'm so sorry, Anna." I pull her into a hug and smell the same shampoo brand lingering in her hair that Rubies used and praised to.

Clarry does the same before Anna brushes her hair away.

"Thank you for coming. I'm sure coming back to New York was tough." Her eyes drop to the floor and I bite my tongue.

"Not at all, we made sure to be here." Clarry whispers to her and when I turn my head, I see Penny looking at us. There's a soft smile on her lips and she brings her hand up to wave.

I grin in return before feeling Anna brush her hand along my forearm.

"Anything for Rubies." I chime in and Anna purse her lips into a thin line. Then I wonder if that is a bad thing to say because her face turns beat red and her eyes become glassy.

She peers over my shoulder and recognizes somebody. "You two should come over the house after the wake. There will be finger foods and many people to kind of ease up the tension. My parents and I would love to have you and the girls over."

She must no know that we lost connection, but I smile and show teeth for more gratitude.

"Yes, we will definitely stop by." I promise and Clarry gives the same smile.

"Excuse me," She mutters then turns away from us and pulls an older man into a hug.

Clarry falls back into her seat and I do the same, twisting my body and reaching for my purse that's on my seat. A shadow casts over my body and when I look up, Penny is hovering over me.

Without a word, she kneels down in front of us and she rests her hands on Clarry and I's knee. Her nose is red from crying and her makeup is smudged on the side of her eyes. Clarry places her hand over hers while I watch Penny's nostrils flare.

"It's been so long," She says, and I nod my head. "I missed you guys. I read your book too, Theo." I always admired her dark, clear skin and smooth lips. The boys always loved her in school. Her hair is pulled into two little buns.

"I missed you too." Clarry and I reply simultaneously. I don't add anything else to her additional comment and she notices before changing the subject.

"I know here isn't the best place to catch up, but I really want to." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "Are you two going to the house later?"

"We will be there." Clarry answers for myself too and Penny nods.

"Perfect," She stands and gives my shoulder a final squeeze before walking away and approaching someone else from our school. I grind my teeth together and prepare myself on what to say when it comes to 'catching up'.

"I'm going to use the bathroom." I whisper as I squeeze out of the row and though the crowds of people. I hear my name a few more times and I keep my head bowed to the ground.

From the corner of my eye, I see Penny watching me leave.

~*~

Vote, comment, follow me :)