Fish Tails

Chapter Eight

R

My insides ached, they burned like a wildfire, a raging blaze that spread from my lungs to the rest of my body. If I closed my eyes, if I kept the light out, I could feel the pain everywhere. My mind disconnected from my body and all I focused on was the flame. It warmed my heart, made me feel things. 

How could I have let this happen? 

What happened this time that changed everything? 

What did I do to lose him? 

No, I think I lost him years ago. 

He's just gone for real now. 

'Riley?' I opened my eyes and finally took a breath. Like a firefighter, the oxygen swept through my lungs and extinguished the flame. I turned my head. No one was there. 

I turned on my side and hugged myself. If I close my eyes and keep out the light, I can almost see us nine years ago.

=

"Mom! He's a freak!" 

"Riley Abigail Brown, don't you dare call that boy a freak!" 

"What, I'm just saying. He doesn't like the water- who doesn't like the water?" I said childishly. 

"I already told you, Riley, he was in an accident." 

"What accident?" 

She sighed, "he's Jasmine's son and you'll be kind to him, you hear? She's a dear friend of mine and I haven't seen her since she ran off with that farmer." 

"You mean his dad?"

"Yes, Riley, his dad is a farmer." 

"Is he coming here as well?" 

"Who?"

"His dad."

"Let's not talk about this, honey. You're too young." My mom took the tea bag out of the pitcher of tea she was making. 

"I'm nine," I replied stubbornly, "not a baby."

"You'll always be a baby, my baby." She replied with a silly smile. I stuck my tongue out and she rubbed my head, messing up the ponytail. 

"I think someone just pulled in," my dad said as he clambered down the stairs. 

"Yeah, I heard a door close. That must be them. Come on, let's go meet Kane." My mom led the way to the front door, followed by me and my dad. 

"Georgia!" A black woman stepped out of the car, her keys in her hand. She walked away from the car and immediately met my mom with a hug.

"Oh, it's been so long since I've seen you Jazzy!" 

"I know, too long! Actually, how long has it been?"

"Like.. ten years?" 

"Really? Then you haven't officially met Kane- where is he? Kane?" She looked around until she noticed the boy was still in the car. She motion for him to get out but he shook his head. She finally walked to the car and opened the door. "Kane, come on, my friend wants to meet you." 

He said something but I couldn't hear because he was too quiet. His mom replied and I heard the seat belt buckle click. He stepped out of the car, a lighter version of his mom with dark eyes and curly hair. 

"His ears are really big," I whispered to my dad. He looked down at me with a frown- I would be lectured later on for that.

"Kane, this is my old friend Georgia, her husband Tom and their daughter, Riley. She's the same age as you." Mrs. Jasmine nudged him toward me but he remained by her leg, a robot toy in his hand. He was clenching it so hard, it looked like the toy might break and fly in a million different directions.