Shades of Sepia

XVII

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles
December 15th
Houston, Texas

I didn't expect to see Sierra, but there she was, strutting down the halls of our building, completely passing Solange and the roses she held. I went to say something to her, but she bumped right into me, passing me and entering my office.

"This is your office right?! Come in!"

She sounded so much like Onika that it was scary. If I hadn't seen Sierra's angry face, I'd be sure that was Onika.

I shrugged at Solange and followed Sierra.

"Shut the door so I can properly cuss you out."

I scratched the back of my head in pure confusion but shut the door anyway.

"A week. A whole fucking week. Not only did you make my best friend spend her birthday alone, but you haven't spoken to her in a week. And counting. You know my best friend was crying on her birthday? Because of you?"

I hated to involve outsiders into my relationship, no matter how close they were. They didn't really know anything beside what they saw. Onika may have been crying on her birthday, but that did not mean I wasn't actively trying not to take her home. I had so much planned. So many surprises and gifts that I knew she would love. I had her birthday planned from the day I'd met her and over the course of the months that I was getting to know her.

But she couldn't let the topic of my mom go. No matter how many firm, solid answers I gave her, she wouldn't stop talking about it. So I took her home and gave her some time to cool off.

Sierra was foolish to think I had actually left Onika alone for an entire week. I had tried everything in my power to get to Onika, but she stood on her word.

Every single day, I was calling Onika's phone, had my limo outside her house, sitting on her porch, trying to get in in some way. But she refused to even speak to me so I couldn't understand how Sierra was coming at me and thinking she was logically correct. Onika wouldn't answer her phone, she would call a different car even though she saw me there, and she had stopped wearing everything that I'd bought for her to wear. She'd stopped wearing my jewelry, my clothes, even my shoes. And she was sure that I saw her, knowing damn well I wouldn't do anything to her or say anything to her. She taunted me with every step she took.

I would appreciate it if Sierra spoke to her best friend before coming here.

"Sierra I love that you love Onika enough to come speak to me despite the punishment coming for you, but it's clear you don't know what you're talking about."

"I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know that I've never seen my best friend cry so hard on her birthday. She was happy with you literally the night before. What happened to that? Why are you lying to her? I thought you loved her."

"I'm tempted to tell you to leave but I know you won't."

"She said you did this too. Completely disregarded everything she was saying."

"Sierra, tell your best friend that she does not have to send her bulldogs and she can just speak to me."

"How's she gonna do that and you keep lying to her?"

I sighed, scratching my neck in frustration. Why couldn't they both just let this shit go? And even if Onika wouldn't, the way she went about shit was all wrong. She wanted to talk but she was ignoring me at every turn. She had even went back to working at Starbucks, looking like and acting like she had never met me before.

I felt the same way I had when she ghosted me right after giving me her phone number. I couldn't see how she could go without me and be okay. I couldn't understand how this shit didn't eat at her.