Through the depths

Chapter 7

Jasmine

"So, when will you be home?" the voice at the other end of the receiver asked. Jasmine closed her eyes and sighed, she was exhausted and wanted nothing but to sleep for days. But when her phone rang with Colin's name on the screen, she knew she couldn't avoid him much longer. She hadn't spoken to him since she arrived for the funeral. She avoided his texts and calls throughout the day. But he wasn't upset, that was the thing about Colin, nothing ever seemed to faze him.

"I still don't understand why you insisted on coming alone. I could've been there for you babe," he continued

"I know, this is just something I needed to do myself," she responded.

"For closure?" he questioned. She rolled her eyes, her twin sister just died. This was not some relationship she needed closure from to move on. Her death was an unfortunate event, something she may never get pass. But He wouldn't understand, so she remained silent.

He continued.

"Did your brother miss you? I bet he was excited to see you." All the feeling from the morning event came back to Jasmine, her crying in front of Khalil. Him brushing her off as if she were a stranger. No, he hates me. she wanted to say. But she held it in.

"Colin, I have to go, I'm exhausted. I'll let you know when I book my flight tomorrow," she said quickly before hanging up. She didn't bother to say goodnight or wait for the "I love you" like he usually said before they got off the phone. She was pushing him away; she knew she was, but Colin was a patient man, and when she was ready, she would be his once more. She reached in a nightstand and felt for the ring she had hid there since she arrived. She didn't want anyone to know she was engaged and would be getting married in a few months. She didn't even tell her sister. Now she wished she had, she wished she'd told her about Colin. But after avoiding home for years, she didn't want to come back to invite them to a wedding as if they still shared that familiar bond.

Truthfully, she was afraid of what they would say. She left home and came back with a white man. She would've never been able to let that down. She'd met Colin a year ago in the last semester of getting her masters. He was a breath of fresh air. He wasn't afraid to speak on the issues African Americans faced every day. He didn't cower as if he was not aware he was privileged like some hypocrite. She was able to sit down and have real conversations with him. She didn't know how or when it happened, but soon, she found herself excited for the times she gets to debate with him, and then that excitement blossomed into caring for him. Before she knew it, they'd move in together and were planning a wedding. It was fast, but she believed Colin loved her. Not in the way of "I don't see your color" bullshit. He loved her for her strength, and poised nature. According to him, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Yasmine would've loved him, she thought. Beyond his complexion, she would've seen what Jasmine saw. Jasmine sniffed as tears began to spill down her cheeks.

Then her phone vibrated, momentarily taking her from her agony.

Colin: I know you're hurting right now babe, but I'm in your corner. When you're ready to open up I'm here. See you soon. I love you.

She read the message and set her phone aside. There was no need to reply, tomorrow she would head home. Back to the life she created. Khalil and everyone else were right she didn't belong in CrowBury, but she promised herself to visit and call Khalil often, even if he hated her and would probably not respond to her phone calls, She would try. She turned to her side and forced her eyes shut.

As hard as she tried, sleep never came. In her gut, something felt wrong, something was very wrong. It was that same feeling she was having a week ago. Then she received the phone call that cemented her worst fear.