A walk on thorns

Chapter 16| Trial But Error

Sabrina's POV

I knocked softly on the door twice before I heard her voice call out, "Come in, Sarah." Steeling myself, I entered. She was still in bed, dressed in her pajamas, her eyes red and swollen, clearly from crying.

"It's not Sarah. It's me," I said gently. She turned to look at me, her expression icy as she muttered, "Go away, Sabrina."

"No, I didn't come here to argue or to lash out," I replied, settling myself on the edge of the bed. Her gaze stayed fixed on the television, though I could tell her thoughts were far from whatever was playing on the screen.

"Can we just have a civil conversation, please?" I asked, trying to reach her. She looked at me blankly, her voice cold as she said, "We have nothing to discuss, Sabrina. If you stay here another minute, you're likely looking for trouble."

“No, Anisha. My intention is clear, and I’m not on some mission. Just let this happen,let us act like the grown-ups we are,” I said, trying to persuade her. She chuckled, still focused on the TV, and rolled her eyes, a gesture she’d perfected since childhood, one that always irritated me. I knew it was intentional. She wanted to provoke me, her attitude on full display just because I’d come to have a conversation for her benefit. Great, Anisha. Classic you.

“Can I have your attention, please?” I asked, my patience wearing dangerously thin.

“Say what you want to say. I’m all ears,” she replied nonchalantly, her eyes still glued to the TV.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my frustration before continuing. “First, before I get into this, I need you to promise not to dismiss me with something like, ‘It’s none of your business,’ just because I point out something you don’t want to hear.”

Her lack of acknowledgment pushed me further, but I pressed on. “Anisha, we’re sisters. That means we’re supposed to have each other’s backs, through thick and thin, no matter what. We’re meant to be each other’s ride or die, no matter how tough or complicated things get. Yes, I know you’re married now. You have a child, a house, and a life that’s very different from mine. I get that some things aren’t necessarily my business.”

I paused, forcing myself to soften my tone as I caught her fleeting glance. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit by when I see something harmful on your path, or a mistake that shouldn’t be ignored. That’s what sisters do, we step in, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

I stopped to gauge her reaction, hoping, for once, she was truly listening.

“What is this long speech supposed to imply?” she asked, her tone laced with disinterest. At last, she turned to look at me.

“A lot, Anisha,” I said, my voice steady but heavy with meaning. “Today marks my fifth day here, and from the very first hour in this house, I thought I’d seen it all. But each passing day proves me wrong, hitting me harder than the last. This has been one of the most exhausting, dreadful experiences I’ve ever witnessed or endured in my entire life.”

“If you can’t stay, then leave. No one’s forcing you. No one’s tied you down here,” she snapped, cutting me off sharply. Her aggression was palpable, but instead of retaliating, I smiled, a small, deliberate act that caught her off guard.

“Well,” I continued calmly, “this isn’t about me, Anisha. It’s about you.”

“Then stop right there,” she interrupted again, her irritation now fully visible. “I’m not complaining, and I don’t need anyone interfering in my life.”

Her words stung, but I remained composed. One thousand ways to handle you, Anisha. Let’s see which one works this time, I thought silently as I watched her simmer with annoyance.