Begin Again

Chapter Six

*TW: Homophobia*

"Where those winning women that's really willing to take it off?"

"You may be expecting a call from us, Kelly Best."

Salomé's P.O.V.

"What do you think that means?"

After telling Rachel how my whole morning and interview went, I concluded with that question.

"Hmm," she began, as she stroked her invisible beard, "It could be so that they can call you to inform you that you got the job, or they just need your number to tell you that you didn't get it."

"Hopefully it's not the latter though. I really need this."

"Of course, you need your job. But actually what you really need is him." She cackled, wriggling about on the floor.

"Okay first of all, what kind of laugh is that? And secondly, I don't need anybody and I certainly do not need him. Much too arrogant for my liking."

"Yeah, but you know men. When they act mean towards a woman, it means they secretly like them."

"Sis, if a man has to result to acts of violence or simply puts up an arrogant front because they actually have feelings for the other person, then that man needs help," I sighed, "Believe me, I know."

She gasped, as she realised what she said.

"Oh shit, I'm so sorry! I didn't realise, honest!" She stammered.

"It's fine, Rach. We all have to adjust our minds sometimes before we speak."

"Definitely," She concluded. "But what's with the fake name though? I like Salomé!"

"Of course you do, you're my sister," I rolled my eyes. "But I don't want Richard to find me. And believe me, when he returns he'll be looking. I have a while until that happens since he should still be abroad, but once he returns..."

I shuddered, unable to finish my sentence as I imagined the detailed search he'd do in order to find me. Hiring private detectives or lying to my family about our situation, in order to scare them into telling him my whereabouts. Speaking of family...

"You know, I received an email from mum about an upcoming family dinner."

"Yeah? So what of it?"

"So? Are you going to come with me? I haven't seen them in a while, and I'm a bit cautious at this sudden invite."

"Sis, as much as I'd love to join our family to dinner and listen to dad go on about his interests, I wouldn't even be allowed to step one foot into their 'House of God'."

"Why not?"

"Hello? Homosexual? That's why I left, remember."

"Still? I thought that was just a phase you were going through, to be honest."

"Excuse me? Being a lesbian isn't a choice. I didn't choose to be an outcast to society and I certainly didn't choose to be the black sheep of the family. I love women, because, and I don't normally use God in this instance, but because God made me to love women. See that's the problem in the black community, we receive hatred from other races, but we also receive discrimination from ourselves. I would've understood this homophobia from mum and dad, but not you Salomé."

I was speechless. It was as if she had poured her soul to me, just because of my internalized homophobia. Of course I still loved my sister, but five years apart from her made me blind to the reality of her life shunned by the people who were supposed to love her the most.