Suicide Sisters

30

JA'KIYA

Applying ointment to Zed's back, I couldn't help but shake my head at the wound in front of me. It was a jagged line, angry and red, a painful reminder of the scuffle he had gotten into last week. I dabbed gently, trying to be both cautious and comforting, but the sight of his injury made my heart ache.

"It don't hurt" he said, his voice steady, though I could see the tension in his shoulders.

"That's beside the point" I replied, my brow furrowing as I focused on the task at hand.

"Whatchu want me to do 'bout it?" He turned his head slightly, a half-smirk playing on his lips, as if he was trying to lighten the mood. Oh please

"I don't know. Change the subject?" I suggested, my tone laced with frustration. I wanted him to understand that wounds like these were more than skin deep.

He turned back to face the wall, dismissing my concerns. "I went to see your dad" he said casually, as if he were discussing the weather.

"Oh?" My heart skipped a beat. The last thing I expected was for him to have a conversation with my father. Unsupervised.

"I told him, I'm going to marry you" he declared, his voice firm and unwavering.

"Zedadiah" I gasped, the name slipping from my lips like a prayer.

"He gave his blessing" he continued, a hint of pride creeping into his tone.

"I'm so confused" I stammered, my mind racing. The whirlwind of emotions left me dizzy.

"Ask a question" he prompted, his eyes still fixed on the wall, as if he were trying to find the right words hidden in the cracks of the plaster.

"Why did you tell him that?" I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper. The gravity of his statement hung in the air between us, heavy and palpable.

"Because it's true" he replied, his gaze finally meeting mine. In that moment, I saw something deeper in his eyes—a conviction that made the chaos around us seem trivial.

As I processed his words, I felt a mix of warmth and apprehension. The idea of marrying Zed had danced at the edges of my mind for months, but hearing him say it out loud made it feel both real and terrifying.

If my dad knows, so does my mom. Fawk

"Okay" I said, the word escaping my lips with a newfound sense of certainty. "we need to schedule a dinner soon so I can formally introduce you to my parents. My mom isn't as welcoming as my dad."

Zed nodded, a smile breaking across his face. "Ight hurry up get this ointment on properly before I end up looking like a patchwork quilt."

As I finished applying the ointment, I felt a sense of clarity wash over me. The road ahead was uncertain, but I knew one thing for sure: I didn't want to face it without him.

•🦋•🦋•🦋•🦋•🦋•🦋•🦋•
ZEDADIAH

Petting my chest with one hand and scrolling through TikTok with the other, Kiya giggled and mumbled to herself, blissfully unaware of my presence. The soft glow of her phone illuminated her face, casting playful shadows that danced across the walls of my small cabin.

"And I oop—jump scare" she exclaimed, tossing her phone to the end of the bed. In an instant, she turned and pressed her forehead against my shoulder, her laughter still echoing in the air. "I just saw a video of somebody's uncle lathered in peanut butter dancing to 'Purple Rain.' I've seen enough for the day!"

I couldn't help but smile, kissing her cheek in response. It was moments like these that painted the canvas of our friendship with vibrant strokes of joy and silliness.