Through the depths

Chapter 2

Jasmine

"Oh, honey. I am so sorry. You know I love you girls like my own. I feel like I lost a child today. But I know it's much worse for you. You just lost half of yourself." Ms. Wanda said, holding Jasmine close in her arms. Jasmine allowed herself to remain in the comfort of the older woman. She and Darien had just arrived to his mother's house, already Jasmine was ready to leave.

Since walking through the door every pair of eyes and whispers were toward her direction. "The twin that got away." "She thought she was too good for CrowBury and left for college." "Can you believe she never came to visit" "She abandoned her sister." Everyone's gesture felt insincere, except for Ms. Wanda. The woman was genuine. She was the mother Jasmine never had. Ms. Wanda offered both her and her siblings safety when they needed it. Fed them when they were hungry and even offered a temporary home every once in a while, when Candace was too high out of her mind to remember she had children.

"Welcome back baby." the older woman said kissing her head.

"You know they're saying it was an overdose?" a new voice intervened, Cassidy, a woman Jasmine as known her whole life. She was her twin sister's best friend. As children they did everything together. It was awkward seeing her now, considering that Jasmine knew how she felt about her.

Cassidy stood in the corner of the kitchen watching Jasmine intently, her eyes had not left her since the minute she walked in Darien. Jasmine had purposely avoided her gaze.

"Now that's some bullshit. Yasmine was not a junkie." Cassidy spat out.

Jasmine sighed, unprepared to hear the rumors so soon. It was inconsiderate of Cassidy to mention this now, the wounds were too fresh, for God sake, it was only hours ago they all watched her sister casket lowered.

"Well, if anyone can find out what really happened Darien will." Ms. Wanda said, smiling at her son lovingly.

"Ms. Wanda, no offense, but everyone knows Darien is only on desk duty. Those red necks don't take him seriously. Just like they will not take this case seriously. Yaz will just be another junkie that died." She continued. Ms. Wanda's face turned sour at her words.

"You know child, just because you say no offense before you open your goddamn mouth to say some nonsense it doesn't make it less offensive." Ms. Wanda replied. The kitchen went quiet. Everyone knew better than to disrespect Ms. Wanda. She was one of the few older folks in the neighborhood that the younger generation still respected. Cassidy disrespecting her son's name was not appreciated.

The tension was too much for Jasmine, she couldn't stand the sound of her own thought let alone hearing of her sister's death. She wasn't prepared to hear how her sister died, and she didn't need that information. While everyone stood distracted, she made her exit out the back door.

The fresh air did her lunges some good. She no longer felt like she was suffocated by everyone's presence. Now sitting on the small steps with her own thoughts, she found the ache of her chest to be crushing.

She wished she hadn't returned. It was selfish of her to think it, and she felt like a coward, but Jazmine wished she hadn't. If only her twin sister was still alive, living the life she knew in CrowBury, while Jazmine stayed in North Carolina pursuing her goals. She was by no means better than anyone in their neighborhood. She grew up here, but this was no longer her home. She'd ran from that years ago. She never meant to stay in a city such as CrowBury. Her only regret was leaving Yasmine and Khalil behind. But what could she have done, she barely made it out of the filth herself. There was no way she could carry two other people out with her too. Jasmine remembered how much she begged Yasmine to leave with her.