Through the depths

Chapter 1

Jasmine

A light wind blew across the land as tears filled the air. The choir sang as a casket lowered further into the ground. A portrait on full display, the picture of a beautiful brown woman with honey-colored eyes and long dark hair.

Her inviting smile that warmed so many hearts in their forsaken city will forever be gone. Through tears, people stared at the portrait, then back at another young woman who stood a few feet away.

Growing up, it was always hard to tell them apart, but there will be no further confusion. Yasmine was dead, and Jaz was here, wearing her face. A face that will have many weeping for the rest of Jasmine's life. Jasmine didn't bother to move closer to the casket. She couldn't bear it. She didn't even enter the church to assist the funeral, she'd sat in her car, fingering that necklace she always wore.

She did not cry, she still couldn't understand why she hadn't yet. Perhaps it was shock, or disbelief. She last saw her twin sister six years ago. Jasmine never imagined coming back to watch her get buried. Now as she stood at the cemetery with eyes on her, she knew they pitied her.

At the end, little by little, people begun to walk to their vehicles to leave.

Jasmine's eyes landed on a familiar face through the crowd. A woman whose face was identical to hers. From a distance, the woman stood surrounded by young men, a joint in hand and a bottle in the other. To any bystander who knew her, it would look as if the woman was a grieving mother. Jasmine was not a fool, Candace was no mother. She has never been a mother to them. She birthed them, without breathing life into them. Candace would use any excuse for a high, including her child's death.

Their eyes connected, and the older woman took a long drawl of the rolled up joint and blew out coolly into the air. She passed it to the nearest person and turned to leave. Stumbling, as she attempted to walk. She struggled to open the door of her old beat up car. In a blink of an eye, a young man grabbed her keys, wrapping his arm around her waist, he walked her to the passenger side. Once the woman was seated, the young man walked to the driver's side, started the car, and drove away. Jasmine watched it all. She wanted to call the young man's name, embrace and comfort him. But she's lost that privilege. She lost it long ago, when she abandoned him. He looked so much older, then again, he was almost sixteen. Already he looked like a man. He stood almost six feet and broad, his hair was long, braided in cornrows to his back. His fair skin had a nice tan to it, undoubtingly from being in the streets.

Jasmine blinked as her heart shattered some more. She's missed her little brother turning into a man –yes, a man. Because in CrowBury, the street life will strip you of your innocence as early as thirteen.

The rustling of leaves behind her alerted Jasmine that she no longer stood alone.

"I'm glad you made it. I was beginning to think you wouldn't." the voice said. Jasmine turned to face the intruder. He stared at her tenderly as if he were anticipating a meltdown like everyone had.

He approached cautiously. She swallowed. She needed him to leave so she could say her goodbye properly. She was thankful he contacted her a few days prior to inform her of the tragedy. God knew if he hadn't, no one else would. Not Candace, or her younger brother, Khalil.

"I need some privacy." Jasmine finally managed, she was on the verge of losing it and wanted to do it in private. To mourn losing her other half without prying eyes. She didn't need anyone's judgement, no one would understand. No one. She sucked in a breath as her body began to shake.

"I am not going anywhere, Jaz." He responded. Unable to reply, Jasmine turned to face the freshly dug six by six whole that will now be her sister's home. Then she lost it. Everything she has been feeling since she got the news came pouring out. A foreign sound escaped her body while she hung on to her chest as the tears came pouring out. Her companion enveloped her in his arms. She wanted to push him away, but she didn't have any strength to do so. So she stood there, enclosed in his arms. Mourning the loss of her twin sister.

"I got you, I got you." he whispered

                                                                                       ***

Jasmine sat in her car, watching the rain slide down her window. It was a while before she left the grave, she stood there for what seemed like hours, until Darien led her to her car when rain began to pour on them. Now they both sat quietly in her car, just watching the rain.

"So how long are you staying?" he asked, finally breaking the silence. He has yet to ask her if she was ok, she was grateful he hadn't. She'd just lost half of herself. The light touch on her hand freed her of her trance. Jasmine closed her eyes and breathed out slowly, remembering Darien was next to her.

"I don't know, but I can't be here for long."

He nodded.

"My mom is hosting a small get together in her name, it will be just a few people from the block. You should stop by," he said. She remained quiet, unsure of the idea.

To many of them, it was just another death, like every other death in the city and close neighborhoods. But this was her sister, this should've never happened to her sister.

"It will only be a few people. Close friends and family." He added, as if he read her mind. Jasmine nodded, she needed something to distract her mind.