Beautiful Words

Red Rubies, White Diamonds.

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel and bobbed my head to the beat of the music.

The sun was setting, and it was getting darker by the minute. The sky faded from dark blue, almost black, to a golden orange on the horizon. I could just make out the faded silhouette of the moon.

Dark clouds covered parts of the sky, heavy with unshed water. They grew thicker and darker as the sun disappeared.

I sighed as raindrops began to lightly dot my windshield. The cars in front of me were inching slowly down the highway. As the rain began to come down harder, the movement all but slowed to a stop. I put my windshield wipers on.

I glanced over at the child in the passenger seat. She was curled up, with her thumb in her small mouth, eyes closed and wrapped in a baby blue blanket.

I sighed again, louder this time, and turned down the music to make sure my sister slept soundly. She was a little girl of four years, and as adorable as a puppy dog. My parents were out of town so I was taking her to stay with me at my place.

I thought about the conversation my mother and I had whispered a few hours ago.

"Keep her safe."

"I will, mom!"

My mother might not have faith in me, but I loved my sister more than life itself. I would do anything to protect her.

I drove off the highway, and came to a stoplight. I could see the cars in front of me getting farther and farther away. In the rain, their tail lights looked like red rubies.

I smiled.

The red stoplights turned green, and I thought, emeralds.

I turned onto my street. In the opposite lane, cars rushed past me, their headlights glowing in the darkness.

White diamonds.

Red rubies.

Emeralds.

I parked in the apartment complexes parking lot, and turned the car off. Swinging my brown purse over my shoulder, I stepped out of the car. I hunched over to protect myself from the rain, and ran to the passenger side.

Yanking it open, I picked up my sister, and put the blanket over her. I jogged up the stairs, panting from the effort. I stuck the key in the lock to my apartment, and opened the door. I went inside, closed the door behind me, and laid my sister on the white couch. She snuggled into the cushions and stuck her thumb deeper in her mouth, never opening her eyes.

I set my purse on the counter, and began to warm up some leftovers. When the microwave beeped, I took my food out. I set it on the table, and grabbed a fork from the silverware drawer. I frowned when I saw the lack of knives.

I reached blindly into the steamy dishwasher, and grazed my finger against a sharp blade. I winced, and took the knife out, carefully.

I rinsed it off and sat down to eat. But then I saw my thumb was bleeding. I quickly walked to the bathroom sink. Rinsing my thumb in cold water, I looked into the mirror. My eyes were green, an almost emerald color.

I turned off the faucet and dried my hand, putting a white, glittery bandaid on. White diamonds.

I frowned when I saw bright red drops of blood on the white countertop. Bringing to mind red rubies.

I chuckled to myself and made my way back to the dining room, to my now cold food. I finished my dinner and washed my dishes in the sink. I placed a red bowl, and white plate, in the dishwasher. I picked up the silver knife and smiled when I saw my green eyes in the reflection. I placed it in the dishwasher.

Not wanting my sister to be alone, I gently picked her up and laid her in my bed. I changed into my comfy PJ's and got into bed next to her.

I placed a protective arm around her, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.

Red rubies.

White diamonds.

Emeralds.

Red rubies.

White diamonds.

Emeralds...