Suicide Sisters

27

It was a typical Saturday afternoon, the kind where the sun spills its golden rays through the window, illuminating the small living room where Zozi and Ja'Kiya sat, engrossed in a conversation that danced between laughter and heartbreak.

Their friendship was a tapestry woven with shared secrets, late-night confessions, and the occasional bout of playful teasing. For the past two hours, they had been filling each other in on their love lives, a ritualistic exchange that provided comfort and clarity amidst the chaos of their young adult lives.

However, the atmosphere shifted as Ja'Kiya's bracelet vibrated yet again, a constant reminder of Leilani's persistent attempts to connect. The bracelet, a symbol of their unbreakable bond, was now a source of anxiety.

"Hold on, this is her fourth time calling" Ja'Kiya sighed, her fingers hovering over the screen. Usually, Leilani would relent after the second call went unanswered, but today was different.

Zozi, sensing the tension, leaned in closer. "What's going on with Lani? Is everything okay?"

"I don't know" Ja'Kiya replied, glancing at her phone. "She's been calling like she's on a mission."

When Ja'Kiya finally answered, the urgency in Leilani's voice was palpable.

"Have you talked to Zed?" she asked, her tone laced with an unsettling mixture of concern and urgency.

"Yes, a few hours ago" Ja'Kiya replied, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Okay... what do you want me to do?" Leilani's voice was now tinged with confusion, as if she were trying to decode a riddle without the key.

"I'm confused" Ja'Kiya admitted, her brow furrowing.

"So y'all haven't talked. Let him know I called you, Twin. He's got something important he needs to tell you. Call or text me afterwards" Leilani instructed, her voice now a whisper, as if the weight of her words could shatter the fragile peace of the moment.

A knot tightened in Ja'Kiya's throat as the implications of Leilani's words settled in her mind. "He cheated on me, didn't he?" she uttered, the question hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

"I've been calling and texting him to find out the full story before I came to you. This shit happened a few days ago, and Zed disappeared two days after. The streets are saying he got caught with Marie and got shot by one of her ex-boyfriends."

"Shot where?" Ja'Kiya's voice trembled, disbelief mingling with a growing sense of dread.

Zed presence caught me so off guard I didn't stop to take in his full appearance when I had the chance. Did he wince when I hugged him?

"His shoulder. They shot him from behind" Leilani replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

In that moment, the world around Ja'Kiya blurred. The vibrant hues of the afternoon sun faded into a muted gray. Zed, her Zed, the boy she had trusted with her heart, was entangled in a web of betrayal and violence. The very foundation of their relationship, built on laughter and whispered promises, began to crumble beneath her.

"Why didn't he tell me?" Ja'Kiya whispered, more to herself than to Leilani. The betrayal stung like a thousand tiny needles, each one a reminder of the love she thought was unwavering.

"Maybe he didn't want to hurt you" Zozi interjected gently, trying to offer a lifeline in the storm of emotions swirling around them. "Or maybe he was scared of how you'd react."

"Scared? Scared of what? I deserve to know the truth!" Ja'Kiya's voice rose, a mixture of anger and heartbreak bubbling to the surface. "I've invested so much in this relationship. How could he just throw it all away?"