Letters To Shay||✓

chapter fourteen-1.

Saturday all through to Monday was like watching a UFO descend in your backyard; no matter how real it seemed you still would find it unbelievable. My cousins, siblings and I sat in a booth at McDonald's, reminiscing our childhood days. We exchanged stories, jokes, a few insults and a lot of belching. I can't believe Emmy bested me.

Seeing them go on Monday night was sad, but I was happy they were leaving on good terms with me. Only, I wasn't on good terms with some other people.

Ohma's phone kept going to voicemail. If I was roughly estimating I'd left her over fifty messages. I missed her so bad, it was beginning to scare me how much I'd grown attached to her.

And then there was Duke. I hadn't heard from him since Friday. There were so many times I'd pick up my phone and my thumb would freeze, hovering above the screen. The look of hurt in his eyes the last time I saw him broke my heart. Was this what it felt like to be in Duke's shoes?

My parents had an award ceremony Tuesday all through to Friday, so they left. Again. But I wasnt bothered in the least. I had the best siblings anyone could ask for. We would just randomly bring up a topic that would merge into another and before we knew it the day would be spent.

Although I had broken out of my shell, it was hard for me to adjust. I started teaching myself simple conversations and positivity. It's not as easy as it may sound like but I'm willing to give it a shot. It started with my neighbour's sons. Jake and Justin were twins with Downs. They were super cute and they were fun to be with.

From there my circle grew bigger. With Keith's permission I hung out with the other kids in my estate. When the girly girl in me felt like, I'd do my hair, paint my nails and join the gossip bunch. Other days I played basketball, as long as the boys promised to go easy on me.

When I wasn't socializing I was writing letters to my inspiration, Shannon "Shay" Ashley Mitchell. Seriously. I'm addicted. I'm stuck on her films and she's my screensaver. One look at her and I remember my pact to myself. Thank you Keith for the video!

That was how it went from Tuesday to Friday, when my parents returned, bringing gifts. For the first time in a long time I hugged her. It took a will power, but I did it. She was shocked but still managed to give me a small smile. I couldn't bring myself to hug Dad though. I nodded at him, and he nodded back, a small smile on his lips. I didn't check the gifts; instead I added it to the stash in my wardrobe. God, there were so many!

I tried Ohma's number one last time before going to bed. It rang twice before Ohma answered. I started jumbling words until someone else laughed at her end. That didn't sound like Ohma. "I'm sorry, darlin' but Ohma cain't come to da phone right now. She's a bit indisposed." My heart sunk. She still wasn't okay. "May ah know who's on da phone, please? Ah'd leave her a messige."

"Please tell her Kimmy K was checking on her. I'd appreciate it."

"Alright, ah'll deliver your messige... Keyonna." Was this Ohma or not. "Mama, who are you talking to on my phone?" There was silence before the line went dead. Ohma told her mother about me. There would be no way I would see Ohma ever again.

So with a sad smile and a heavy heart, I went to sleep.

*********

After folding the laundry with Kiara, because Kimberly had gone grocery shopping and Keith would rather listen to beats than help us with chores, I decided to call the number that messaged me the other day.

"Hello...?" The receiver sounded shaky, as if they were scared to talk.

"Hi... I got a message from this number last week telling me to call..."