Harlem Roses

epilogue

Five Years Later: May 5, 2018

Vashtie Marie Kola

I don't know what the hell they call that feeling when you're scared the moment before you get married but I think it's like cold shoulders or some strange name along the lines of that. Whatever it is, I am on the verge of calling everything off as I nearly suffocate in this tight ass dressing room.  Elizabeth Taylor's signature White Diamonds fill the air, and it's obvious my older cousin Rozonda sprayed way too much.

"You good? Looking like you bout to pass out Vash." She questioned, laying her hand on my shoulder as I looked around the room with an uneasy feeling stuck in my stomach.  I wasn't sure if I was about to pass out from the strong perfume fumes and how humid it felt in the room, or just pull the crisp white dress off and leave with the dignity I still had.

"I never thought that this all would be so stressful." I admitted, taking a seat on the chair I had been sitting in an hour prior to have my hair and make up done.   Rozonda then pulled up a chair beside mine before plopping down, ready to give one of her famous inspirational speeches she never failed to deliver.  No wonder she was the family's lawyer with a mouth like her's.

 "Girl, you've been through a hell of a lot with that boy. So I know that if you're trying to question if this is right path, you're going to understand in less than five years that this was all worth it. This entire day is for you, and definitely the last time you'll be hearing the name Vashtie Kola, roll off my tongue." She said with the best serious voice while holding her comforting smile. "Today is your day, and later on tonight, you'll be doing some shit I don't want to even bring up." She added with a chuckle.

"What I'm trying to say is, don't stress it. Whether you're in a poofy looking Cinderella type dress, or in sweats and a pair of Jordan's, Sean is always going to accept you for you and love you." I nodded my head with a grin beaming off of my face, pulling her into a tight hug.  I probally would go insane, doing even more ridiculous crap as before if she didn't decide to move back to New York.

 Rozonda Thomas had to be the closest thing I ever had to an older sister.  Not only did we go to school together and were often confused as being sisters.  But back when we were in high school, she would always play the role as the protective older brother, supportive twin sister, and sometimes even the carefree, witty, best friend.  There probably has never been a time I ever saw Rozonda as a cousin in my life,  we were pretty much joined by the hip.

 

That was of course before the two year age difference became a conflict.  Rozonda decided to carry on to law school at most peoples dream university of Harvard, while I stayed in Brooklyn all alone. Even though she would always say Cambridge to Brooklyn was literally a phone call and plane trip away, I some how never managed to visit her. She was always tied up with her classes, or I would probably had been too busy gawking over Sean to have a care about anything beside us. 

"I have made some really stupid decisions while you were gone." I admitted, shaking my head as she gave me a questionable look.  I haven't really talked to anyone ever since I graduated from college.  With Carter and Joey more than likely fleeing the con try after his brother was arrested on behalf of Rakim's death, I didn't have any other girls close in my life that actually was worth telling anything that was going on in my life.  So I just took that as the opportunity to fly solo, and try rolling on my own.