Rats, Roses And Paper Bones

chapter 35: Its okay not to be okay

Three Months Ago...

“Wait here with your sister. Let me get you both something to eat before we leave.”

My mother pointed toward a bench near the school car park.

“Yes, Mum,” Dara and I chorused.

She walked away, leaving us behind.

“So,” Dara said, swinging her legs beneath the bench. “Are you coming to this school?”

“I haven't decided yet.”

She gave me a look.

“You know I'm waiting for you to decide, right? We have to attend the same school.”

“I know.”

I stared at the school building.

I wasn't telling her the real reason I hadn't decided.

I was scared.

Scared that everything that happened at my previous school would happen again.

“Are you scared that what happened at your old school will happen again?”

I turned to her.

“How did you—”

“I have eyes, Doyin.”

I laughed softly.

I'd never told her much about what happened. Yet somehow, Dara always seemed to know when something was bothering me.

“Maybe,” I admitted.

She was quiet for a moment.

“You know I believe in you, right?”

I looked at her.

“You do?”

She immediately looked away.

“Don't get excited. I still think you're lame.”

I laughed.

“But,” she continued, “I trust you.”

“Thank you, Dara.”

I deliberately ignored the first part.

She looked toward the school building.

“You know what? I think I like this place.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And they have a really cool chapel. I saw it when we came in.”

She stood up.

“Want to see it?”

“Sure.”

We ran toward the chapel.

The moment we stepped inside, I was stunned.

The place was beautiful.

Dara, of course, had to touch everything.

The wooden chairs. The pulpit. Even the metal crosses.

“Dara, stop touching everything!”

“I'm just looking!”

“You're touching.”

“Same thing.”

I rolled my eyes.

Then I noticed the keyboard.

It was the largest one I'd ever seen.

I walked toward it and carefully lifted the cover.