Dark and light: The Shadows

Chapter 21

This chapter contains ED, SA, some murder, and body image talk.

Anya stared at the note attached to the gift and watched her sister's door close.

She didn't need to give me another gift

Sure, they didn't have a proper birthday amidst last month's madness, but they did something. She chalked it up to guilt. She appreciated gifts, though.

She got her sage, lit it, and swirled it around the box with intention, first anti-clockwise, then clockwise.

Ok. It's ok.

She opened the box and squealed slightly. It contained limited-edition hair bows, ribbons, and other accessories for the upcoming summer. She was more than happy to have this theme in stock now.

She placed it on her desk, sighing. It would come in handy when she went to practice this evening. She felt like using ribbons or bows today.

She got back to studying directly afterward.

Deven watched as Bekati grabbed her sketch pad right after entering and took a seat on her bed. Not as much as an update of how that went confirmed she hadn't said a word to Anya when she dropped off the gift. She was supposed to ask her how she was.

"Do you like misery?" Deven asked.

"I'm sorry. Que?" Bekati put her sketch pad away. "That came so left field."

"Why don't you talk to them? Actually, say how you feel." She sounded fed up. "They're confused half the time."

"They can read my energy." Beka shook her head.

"So you would rather them play a game. You take your life as a game." She scoffed.

Bekati shrugged. She closed her eyes and put her pencil onto her paper again. Deven raised her brows and calmly went over, snatched the sketchpad away, and set the pencil on the table with the book. Bekati didn't have the time or energy to react the way she felt impulsed to.

"You don't talk to your guardians well enough. You play hard to get with your siblings. You probably don't tell your therapist anything. But you will not ignore me when I feel you crying inside to tell someone something. I'm right here, menina. I'm right fucking here."

Bekati looked at her, face red. From anger? Maybe. From embarrassment? Yes.

"Now tell me. Why don't you tell them anything?" Deven sat in front of her on the ground.

Silence passed by as Bekati fiddled with the rubberband on her hand.

"You can sit down here beside me." Deven pulled the pillow from Bekati's bed and set it beside her.

Bekati looked at the pillow contemplating. Moments passed before she sat beside Deven, staring right past her.

"We should get highlights after this, by the way. You'll look so cute."

Bekati looked at her momentarily. Eyes wide.

"Don't ever call me that." She nearly hissed and put her hands on the ground.

Deven looked at her confused.

"It was... I'm sorry. You don't like that compliment." Deven paused. "Did someone you love used to tell you that?"

The recipient of the question debated answering that for a moment.

"Quite the opposite." Bekati held her head in her hands now.

"You hated them?" Deven squinted her eyes a tad.

"I grew to hate them. I worked with them." Bekati breathed out. Tears stung her eyes.