Picked~A Melanin Tale

27 Silent Screams

Nubia

I take my ear off the door of Zadia's room. So, that's been her issue this whole time? She had a thing for Jafaris and still possibly does? She even had a baby and got rid of the baby before speaking to Jafaris first. That's rough and fucked up. I'm not sure why she didn't just tell me these things. Hell, after Zakia lied to me, I'm sure I'd believe anything Zadia would have told me.

I tell ya, things were a lot easier in rehab. I didn't have to go through all of this drama with anyone. I only had to worry about myself.

Wait...why didn't Jafaris tell me about this?

I don't know who to turn to or what to do, I feel as though I'm breaking. Everyday with every single lie and betrayal from these females who call themselves my sisters.

I walk into my father's room to find him watching television.

"Nubia, are you alright?"

"You've been talking to Sirrah?" I overheard him and mom talking about Sirrah and when he was going to see her.

"I have been."

"I wanna talk to her."

He shakes his head, "that's not a good idea."

Enraged, "what! Why not!"

"Because I'm trying to," he scratches his head, "ease her in here."

"That's the lamest excuse ever. What's the real reason? Or do you not have one?" I fold my arms.

""Uh...I don't have one. I just don't think it'd be a good idea."

I press my lips together.

"She's going through a hard time right now-."

I roll my eyes, "all the more reason for me to talk to her. I could try to help her. You know, to let her know she's not in this alone."

"Sorry, Nubia."

I scream, "that's not fair!" I storm out and I'm met by Zadia in the hallway.

"I completely agree with dad,' she says examining her finger nails.

"What?"

"Nubia, you just came out of rehab. How in the hell can you help her when you can't even help your damn self? Honestly."

I go to my room and close the door silently. I look at the floor then around my room.

"I gotta get outta here." I grab a suitcase from my closet and begin throwing things into it.

"I can't be in here any longer, I just can't deal with this."

I phone Tilly in the middle of my quick packing.

"Hey, Nubia. What's going on?"

"Tilly," I'm near tears from all of the stress, drama, and deceit.

"Nubia, oh my. What's wrong?"

"I need a place to stay, please."

"Sure. Do you need me to come get you?"

"Yes," I sniffle.

"I'll be there in five minutes."

"Thank you."

I check my things as I hang up the phone. Now, I need to get pass my parents. I know mom is working late, as always. Dad is into whatever he is doing. Zakia is still panting and Zadia...no clue what she is doing.

I hear dad go into his room. Maybe he left his phone in the kitchen. He always leaves his phone in the kitchen whenever he is going to go back there.

I take my suitcase and go to the kitchen. Low and behold, his phone is sitting on the counter.

I pick it up, check to see if he is coming, then I swipe it. No password. Scrolling through the contacts, I find Sirrah's number. I jot it down on a napkin. Just as I get finished, a horn blows outside.

Gotta be Tilly.

I put the phone back and race outside before someone comes down the stairs.

"Are you gonna be okay, Nubia?" Tilly asks as I get in the car and put my seat belt on.

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it later."

She nods.

It's a silent ride to Tilly's house and all I could think about was all the fucking bullshit these bitches called my sisters have put me through. I know they had their own issues and call me selfish but I needed them. I needed them while I was in rehab and none of them were there for me. I bet Sirrah would have been there if she knew me. I begin to get angry with my dad.

"Da fuck!"

Tilly jumps, "trick, you can't be scaring me like that. Fuck wrong with you? I'm driving."

"Everything is so messed up. No, no, it's fucked up. Fucked up. A cluster fuck. A fucking mess."

"What happened?"

We pull up at her house and get out. Once she gets me settled into the guest room across the hall from her room. She sits on the bed.

"So, tell me what's going on."

"My family is so dysfunctional. I've got no clue what happened while I was gone. My sisters have lied to me, my father wouldn't give me my sister's number. The only sane person in that house is my mother, but that's only because she's always at work. I hadn't been able to talk to her since I got back." I shake my head and hug my knees against my chest.

"Nubia, girl. That's some hard shit."

"Yeah, I know. I can't trust the,. Hell, Zadia's a ho. She dated Jafaris, hence...."

"Why she's jealous," we say simultaneously.

"Exactly," I add, "not only that but they had a baby. But, she aborted it and so many others. That's what caused him to leave her."

"Why didn't he tell you?"

"I don't know."

"Have you even spoken to him about it?"

"No, I wouldn't even know where to begin or how to begin on a subject like that."

"I don't know what to say. My mom did say you can stay as long as you like."

"Thank you. I think I'm going to try and get some sleep."

Tilly gets up. "Alright, good night, chick." She closes the door behind her.

I sink down into the bed and pull the covers up.

Just before I close my eyes, I come up with an idea.

"I'll talk to my rehab counselor tomorrow. Maybe she'll be able to help me out," I yawn. "I know she will." I turn over able to rest a little easier now.