"So this is it then, Kare?" I nod at her as she gathers up a night's worth of clothes from her chest.
"I reckon so." She sighs, reaching over to take my hand "There ain't anything you can do about it, Sylv, the offer is still open for you to come, but if not, I understand."
"Karen, please, I can't. Don't go, don't do this." I plead, the reality of the situation suddenly hits me like a train.
"So, then what, Sylvia, am I supposed to just stay here and let myself die of shame. I don't have a choice; it will ruin me." I haven't seen Karen this upset since that night at the park, and seeing someone so strong break isn't something I would recommend. It's actually rather haunting.
"No, you go Karen, go." I concede, cracking under the pressure of the moment.
"I love you Sylvie, you stay here, and take care of Dallas, and I'll be back before you can even blink." She smiles at me.
"I'm just worried for you is all." I nod, trying to make her feel better about my mood.
"Here," she smiles, taking off her necklace "You know I never take this off, but I want you to hold on to it for me. Don't you lose it now." She gives me an eye as I grasp the necklace in my hands real tight.
"Are ya sure?" I gasp, opening my fist to reveal the cross necklace her mother gave her when she was born. It was her mother's before, and grandmother's before even that. She hasn't taken it off in what must be three years, and that was only because Coach Smith wouldn't let her cheer with it on.
"Course I am." She grins.
"And you'll be back, right soon as it's over?" I nod, not overlooking how she avoids my eyes.
"Right soon." She agrees, suddenly pulling me into her arms.
I stand locked in an embrace with her in her room, and for some reason I can't help but let the tears fall down my cheeks.
"I wish I could see you off to the train." I frown, remembering that my diner shift ain't gonna go anywhere.
"I'll have Dallas to take me." She laughs.
"Shoot, I'm glad you remembered that he's taking you, I doubt he did." I roll my eyes at his lack of care for anything he can't remember properly.
"You better head on over and remind him then, I know you ain't gonna want to stay here all night when you have a perfectly fine boy waiting on you." She pats my arm, the both of us heading towards the door.
"Right soon?" I beg, looking over at her with a small frown.
"Right soon." She agrees, pulling me in for a tight hug.
As I walk down the steps, I turn to face her again, giving her one last smile, barely noticing the tears that slip down her cheeks. In the lighting, she looks haunted, possessed by the fear a baby in her belly has caused her. In that moment, all I want is for her to be happy, full of life even. She smiles, and then turns into the door and disappears.
That was the last time I ever saw Karen Hill.
Dallas took her to the station, and came back acting more strange and jumpy than usual, asking me multiple times how long she was planning on staying. I finally caught on after the third time he asked like he was trying to make sense of it himself.
"You sure she packed everything?" I ask, tears streaming down my face as I listen to everything Dallas must say.
"Man, she had three bags, all she said was that she left you something in her room for while she's gone. Hell, I'll take you over right now if you need." He takes a drag of the cigarette he's been nursing for a few minutes.
"Then get Bucks car and take me." I downright yell, slamming my hands down on the porch rail.
Dallas looks at me wide eyed before crushing the cigarette with his boot.
"Damn, whatever my girl wants." He smirks, muttering about anger and sexiness as he walks away. If I was in any kind of better mood I would say something, or be flattered, but with Karen's friendship on the line, I can't help but feel more anger than I ever have.
"Yo, Sexy, let's go." Dallas shouts, swinging car keys on one finger as he heads down the drive, not bothering to make sure I'm following.
Husting behind him, I wrap my coat tighter around me, glad to be out of the wind when I close the car door.
Dallas speeds down the road, past three stop signs, and past my street. I barely even live there anymore, Danny has the place on lockdown, and always manages to do me over when I'm there. Plus, Charlie is mad at me for leaving his hero, Tim, behind for some other no good hood from another gang. Somehow Danny managed to convince him that gangs are meant to be some kind of sacred tie that no boy breaks, and God forbid a woman break that sacred tie.
"Juliet, you gonna go in?" Dallas breaks me from my thoughts, and I stare at the door of Karen's house.
The lights are off as usual, Karen's dad is probably out at the plant, and her mom is working her usual night shift at the hospital. They're used to me dropping over, sometimes even when Karen is out so they typically leave the door unlocked for me.
I open the door, running past the living room and around the corner to the room where I've grown to know Karen.
I throw open the door, looking around at her walls. Anything she held dear is missing, and I feel like the walls are closing in and suffocating me. I stumble in, looking around for anything she left behind that could be for me, and I stop when I see the folded white on the bed.
Slowly I make my way to the paper, faltering when I see one for Curly before my own.
My letter crinkles in my trembling hands, and before I can read it, I collapse onto the bed, opening the letter with a sob.
Her beautiful cursive fills the page, and I almost can't bring myself to read it, but I manage anyhow.
Sylvia,
My dearest friend, and my sister. I could barely bare to do this to you, but I must. By now you must understand that I am gone. I will not be coming back, and that is okay. Do not come looking for me, or the monster I will have created after the doctor rids me of my problem. Things will not be the same, and that is why I am now gone.
You have to know how incredible it has been to be your friend. You are such a special soul, do not sell yourself short. I know that you are hurt, and I am hurting as well, but whenever you need me, know that all you must do is be strong for yourself. For years, I have been next to you, protecting you from the cruelty of the world we live in. I may no longer do that.
Anytime you need to be strong, you picture me fighting off Tim for you, and you be brave for yourself. Do not fear, I know that you have the courage of a lion built up in that sweet soul of yours. For so long you have been holding yourself back, but know that if you are brave, the world will not touch you. It may hurt sometimes, or be completely unexpected, but it will not last. Life moves forward, and so shall you.
Take care of Curly for me, he will never understand why the things that have happened will. He will need you, you are the only bit of me left behind in Tulsa. Take care of my necklace, and when you grow older, and have a sweet baby girl, you give it to her and continue the tradition that I will no longer be able to keep.
Sylvia, you have been the best of friends to me, and I know I will never love another soul as I have yours. You are my sister, and I am yours. I am so sorry Sylvia, but I must take care of myself. So now, you must take care of yourself.
Love to you forever,
Karen Hill
And the walls crash down on me.
YOU ARE READING
Sylvia
FanfictionI don't even know if I remember the first time I saw him. Back then I didn't pay him one glance, but there was something about Dallas Winston like the irritating way gum sticks to the bottom of your shoe, and glory, I hated to love him. He was bold...
