At least they're together now

CHAPTER FOUR

Shantiny
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4
The first therapy session.
__________________________________

"Shantiny!" Josephine walks over to me and gives me a tight hug. "Guess! Guess! Guess!"

"You finally asked when you're aloud to come over?"

"No... I forgot... again... but I will. My dad will pick me up from school today, and then we're going to my mom."

Oh yeah. Shit that was today.

"Are you nervous?" I ask.

"I mean, it will be the first time since the funeral." She looks at me, and obviously, she would never at mid it, but she's sad.

She sighs and grabs my waist, pulling me in for a tight hug.

"Oh!" She pulls away from me and grabs a hold of my hands, "We should visit her together."

My eyes widen. I would love to go with her. I want to be here for her. "I'll think about it."
The last time I've visited someone's grave was 3 years ago.

I see the hope in her eyes fade away.

"Today is a day for your dad and you together, I don't think it's a good idea for me to come in between the two of you."
"You won't come between us."

"I will think about it. If we go, it will be the two of us. Today is you and your dad, the two of you."

I will go with her. I've already decided that I will go with her but I'll tell her when I know for sure that I have time.

"I have to go to the subway now. Give me a tight hug." I let go of her hands and give her a last hug before I go. "I love you. And I'm always her for you, josephine."

Her eyes lit up. "I know," her voice is calm, "I love you too. Bye-bye."

As I start walking to the subway, my phone goes off.

'Hey, Shantiny. Come straight home, Ishana is already here.'

Oh yeah.

I have therapy with my sister today, Ishana.

I think it will go fine.
I hope it will.

We've had therapy before, but that didn't work out. I hope now that we are both older, it will be a different experience. A better experience.
___________________________

Ishana, my mom, and I are singen in the car on our way to therapy.

Our mom is the driver, Ishana is DJ, and I am the passenger princess. Obviously.

Whenever it's the three of us in the car, we listen to the same Spotify playlist and sing the lyrics as loud as we can. Well, more like screaming the lyrics as loud as we can and...-

"We're here."

And then the vibe is ruined. The 15 minutes of having fun in the car over just like that. Because our mom tells us we arrived. It happened faster than the snap of my fingers.

We all step out of the car and start walking inside the building. The first time I've walked in here, I was 8 years old

"Hi, we have an appointment with Selma, and I can't remember the other woman's name."

"Who is the appointment for?" Asks the woman behind the counter.

"For Shantiny Bharen and Ishana Bhat."

Yes, miss, we have a different last name.

I see the woman behind the counter looking between me and my sister.