❀ 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐌𝐀 ❀

33

Omniscient

Solei never imagined herself in this predicament. Not in a million years. By this point Naseem and some other guy pulled Don off of Bruce. He had went to the backyard to get some air. The sound of cars and crickets filled the night sky.

Don rested his weight on his arms that sat on the balcony railing. He didn't mean to cause a scene and flash out. He just was angry; indignant even, but everyone's lucky he didn't kill him. He only didn't because of Solei's sake. If it wasn't for her; everybody in the room would be dead: the building just a graveyard.

The back door opened, but he didnt bother to look. Don was fed up at this point.

He could tell someone walked by him and stood on his side; the smell of brown sugar filled his nose: he knew that scent. More specifically, he knew who wore it. Solei had a hard time debating if she should follow him outside: he looked so upset she thought he might flash out on her.

She brought damped napkins because she knew his fingers would be bruised, but she decided on not saying anything yet. Being with him was enough for her. They sat in comfortable silence for a while staring at the waxing crescent moon.

"It's beautiful..." Solei finally spoke up.

"I know." Don says, but to her surprise he wasn't looking at the moon anymore he was looking at her. 

They stood there staring at each other wanting to say so many words, but their eyes communicated it all. Solei could tell he'd been hurting, and he knew that he had hurt her.

"Im sorry." They say in unison. They both laugh at what happened, he missed her smile and her laugh.

"You first." He says.

Solei sighs struggling to make eye contact with him. He notices this yet continues to watch her intently as if she'll disappear in any minute. "Im sorry Don... What I said to you the other day. It wasn't right, not at all. Like truly I'm sorry, but my feeling to the situation... I can't help that. Thats just how I feel, but I do want you to know I care for you, I love you Don. Thats why I cant just leave; I can't abandon you when you need me the most. When I need you..."

Don stood there taken aback, he hadn't notice his mouth had been agape, and she didn't notice a tear flowing from her eye. Don was all she had, literally. Mother: deceased, father: deceased, and brother— deceased mentally. Don was there for her in many ways than one; she couldn't just leave him. 'Our love can be different,' she thought. 'There has to be a way to get him out of the Mafia' The Mafia was slowly killing Don; mentally and physically.

Don had cupped her cheek in his hand, and wiped the tear with his thumb. "Solei..." He pulls her into a hug and holds her head with his palm; whispering something only her ears could hear—  even though it was just the two of them. "I forgive you, but can you forgive me? Ive done terrible things: things where I don't think I can forgive myself."

"I said I love you." Solei simply says. "Since I love you I am able to forgive you."

She feels his body tense up, "What did I do to deserve you? Since I can remember I've been doing wrong, choosing wrong, indulging in wrong, but you... You seem like the only and I mean only thing I got right." They stand there still hugging for a bit longer until Solei pulls apart.

Her eyes make their way towards his light brown ones, "I guess we're both broken in different ways..." She says.

"But you carissima are perfect in my eyes." He says looking at her lips. She does the same, and before she realizes it Don steals a kiss from her lips. She melts into the kiss: welcomes it with all her being. They missed each other's touch; each other's warm embrace. Simply each other's scent which seemed heavenly due to their time apart.

They pull apart and stare at each other a while longer. "How about we wrap things up here." Don says

"You think Tay and Naseem will mind."

Don waved his hand, "I'm sure they wouldn't. In fact, they'll want this."

"You right." Solei laughs

"Alright let's go amore mio." He says grabbing her hand and opening the door for them two. They earned a couple looks, but to be fair the fight was still pretty fresh everyone's minds. They walked by Nasesm and Taylor to say their goodbyes.

"I knew it would work." Taylor says nudging Naseem.

"Ha ha very funny." Solei says sarcastically

"But it did! A win's a win." Taylor says shrugging her arms.

"Call us cupid." Naseem says joking, he earns a sigh from Don.

"Anyways" Solei laughs, "We gon' be heading out, and thanks for real, we needed this."

"Anytime. Low key hope this isn't a reoccurring thing though." Naseem says.

Don's eyes traces Solei's face and gives her hand a light squeeze, "It wont be."

➜

Solei

It was the next day. Last night Don had took me to his place, and we cuddled up on the sofa eating ice cream and watching movies until our eyelids were so heavy we went to his room. I wore his shirt; which was oversized on me as I brushed my teeth. Don came behind me snaking his arms around my waist. "Good morning amore mio."

"Good morning my love." I say with a mouth full of toothpaste. Don laughs and joins me by using the other sink.

"Do you work today?"

"Nope"

"Perfect we're going out."

➜
"I would've never guessed the Aquarium." I say rubbing my thumb against Don's hand as our fingers are interlocked.

"You don't like it?" He questions,

"Don, I love it. I just don't know the last time I been to one."

"If it makes you feel better this is my first time."

"To this one or ever?"

"Ever." Don says as we walked past the different fishes. "When you do what I do there's really no time for fun. Not even as a kid."

"Im sorry..." I say as my mind spirals to all the bad things Don must've been through.

"Hey dont look so sad." He says lifting my chin with his free hand, "I don't mean to trauma dump on our date." He chuckles.

I stand still which makes him stop, and I look him dead in his eyes. "Whenever you're ready to open up I'm here okay."

"I know." He says swiping a few strands of hair out my face. I had wore a side part with my hair down since I still had the quick weave in.

"Now let's continue."