The Gem Light

Aphrodite

I sat across the table from my father,playing in a puddle of cold soup. I could see the uncomfort I caused him. Here I was,in his big house,amongst all his success that he had used to forget about my dead mom,my insanity,and my wild sister.
"So,have you spoken to Aphrodite?"
He did a slight jump at the sound of her voice.
"Not in months,actually. We..um.. drifted away from each other after..you know..." he stopped speaking as he looked at me.
"You look so much like her,Amethyst."
I got up and left the table.

I lay in my bed,phone in hand,trying to remember my sister's most recent number. She was always all over the place,doing things that were beyond illegal so she only kept disposable phones. I decided to go to the last place she stayed but first,I had to find something decent to wear,New York was extremely cold this time of year. After tugging on my favorite old sweater and skinnies, I headed out.

The last place she stayed was in the graffiti covered Dubush Apartment Complex. It was located in the upper parts of the Bronx and was known to be filled with junkies,sex feins,young mothers,and prostitutes. My sister was 2 of the 4. I walked through the doors,receiving stares from the kids inside of it. I recalled one of the faces.
"Hey Julian." The brown eyes pierced me from the chubby round face.
"Um,hey,and you are?"
"Amethyst,silly,I used to bring you gifts everytime I came here."
"Oh! I think I remember! Do you have a gift for me now?"
I rummaged in my pockets and handed him $20.
"Thanks! You're here to see Afro?"
"Yes,have you seen her?"
"I can't really say but word around here is,she's been messing with something supernatural."
I laughed but saw no signs of joking on his face.
"Are you serious?"
He began to walk back towards his friends and paused. He looked me directly in the eyes. "Dead."