The Price ࿊f Peace

☮️: 019

Somewhere in Oakland

Syara walked through the patio door, trying her hardest not to close it too hard, accepting the call from her little sister.

For the first few moments, they sat in passive aggressive silence, waiting for the other to talk.

Seriya had called and texted first, so she wouldn't be the first to talk. It was up to Syara.

"¿Qué pasa, mamita?" Syara started the conversation. She tried her best to immerse herself in little sister in speaking Spanish with her.

It made her feel closer to their mother who spoke only Spanish before she died when Syara was 9 and Riya was 5 1/2.

"Okay." Seriya sighed, finally looking at the phone and taking notice of her sister's appearance. She paused for a second, admiring her beauty before remembering why they were at odds.

She refocused. "Okay." She repeated. "You're being a hypocrite, Yara."

Syara hunkered down to listen to what her sister was saying, so that she could understand where she was coming from. In reality, she really didn't have time for this, but for her little sister, she'd always make time.

"You don't want me to go out with my literal boyfriend because he's a gang member, when you're literally a gang member yourself."

"Like a real one."

"He's not trying to make me do anything I'm not supposed to. Everyone swears he's using me for something and he's not."

"And, then, you're trying to tell me about him when you don't even know him. You're making assumptions when you've never even met him, and perpetuating stereotypes that literally affect you too."

"You swear I'm so naïve, and I don't know what's going on, but I do. I'm very aware and I know what I'm doing."

"I confided in you because I thought you'd understand better than anyone, but you don't get it at all."

Syara took a moment to really think about what her sister was saying. It was bullshit, yes, but it was how she felt.

"Riy-Riy." Syara started. "You'on get it and you never will until something bad happens."

"You don't know shit about the life he or I have to live. Ain' nobody saying he has bad intentions witchu, but it's not about intentions."

"You think niggas intend to die when they get caught up? You smarter than that and you know you are. It's not about who he is as an individual person. That all goes out the window when you bang."

"Niggas don't see you. They see the gang you rep and they get you for it. The fuck? I been around the block enough times to know exactly where this shit goes."

"But it's all good. I can't force you to do shit. You wanna fuck wit' that nigga, do it. But, when it's all over, don't act like I ain' tell you shit."

Syara was over talking about it. She knew she couldn't make her sister do anything, and she had a feeling that her sister wouldn't listen to her. She was stubborn, so much like her it hurt.

Yara knew better than anyone else on this subject and she was trying to make sure Riya did better, but Riya didn't want to do better. She already had better.

Yara understood, but that was how too many girls lost their lives. Being naïve when they knew better.

Either way, Riya would do what she wanted to and Yara couldn't stop her. She'd just have to learn on her own.

Riya sighed. She didn't agree with her sister and she just wouldn't see it. She liked Armand, he was good to her. And if she let him, he'd continue being good to her.