My family and I grabbed the last of Jamiya's things and made our way up to her dorm room. It didn't take long to get her things because she didn't own too much. She only brought clothes (mostly basketball shorts & t shirts), posters, basketballs & a few other material things.
If you can remember, I said Jamiya was a freshman when I was in sixth grade. She would have been in eighth but she skipped. Because of this she decided to stay home a year before going away to college... And here we are.
It's August 9th and I'm helping my older sister move into her Notre Dame Dorm room. She'll be a freshman in college and I'll be a junior. Her basketball practices paid off greatly. She's got a full ride and a jersey to her name on the women's basketball team.
I'm happy and proud, yet sad. I'm sure you all understand why. This is my big sister here. This is the girl who's been with me through everything. Besides my parents, Jacob & Fatou, she's all I got.
It's like we're twins--fraternal twins because we're two different people. I'm more of a girly girl and she's a tom boy. But that's beside the point. We've been close since my birth. If she's in trouble, I'm in trouble. We may fight and argue a lot, but that's any sibling.
Putting her things away brings tears to my eyes. I'll basically be home alone now since my parents will be at work.
I won't have anyone to harass anymore.
I won't have anyone to cry to.
I won't have anyone to come home to and tell them about my day.
My parents are never home for me to communicate with them face to face. Fatou doesn't go to Chi Arts. I told you, she refuses to do what everyone else at Medgar Evers did or does. And Jacob? Well, he's with me almost 24/7 so he's aware of everything that goes on right when it happens.
"Naomi, can you hand me my boxes of clothes?" Jamiya asked, while sitting on the floor in front of her dresser.
Her room was awkward. The walls were plain and painted white. There was a window, but no curtain. She had a queen size bed but no sheets. Normal hardwood covered the floors, but there was no TV in site. Her room sucked.
Typically we had to supply her with everything like curtains, sheets, a TV, microwave and all of that. She chose a green bed spread and blue and purple curtains. Someone's getting a little girly.
I grabbed her boxes and kicked them over to her. She opened them and began to take out her clothes.
Her dresser had four drawers. The first she used for her socks. The second was used for her bras & panties. The third drawer had her t shirts & the fourth, her shorts. The few jeans she had were put in her closet with her huge collection of Jordan's. Her posters were typically hung around the walls. I guess it was beginning to favor her room at home... Minus the girly colors.
Her bed sat in the middle of the room, up against the back wall. To the right of it was her night stand and a little further to the right were a desk and a window to the left of it. The front, right corner was where we'd be putting her TV. In front of the bed was her closet. To the left of the bed was her dresser on top of it was her microwave. To the left of that was her bathroom.
The bathroom was painted a light blue, baby blue I think. Her shower was small and round. It had no curtain, just a glass door that opened and closed. Of course, you had the sink and the toilet. Not much to describe there.
"You like my room?" Jamiya asked, standing up and dusting herself off.
My parents had gone down to the lobby to get her schedule and paper work. While they were gone, Breezy & I agreed on taking a trip to the cafe.
"Yeah, but why is it so girly?" I asked, following her out of the dorm.
"Well, I needed some type of reminder of you." she said, lightly shoving me.
Hearing those words most definitely made me cry. My sister was stepping out of her comfort zone just to have a reminder of me. Forgetting about all the pictures she had of me, and all the gifts I bought her, she decided to mimic my room.
"Oh, don't be a wuss." she said hugging me.
I couldn't even reply. My words were muffled by my tears every time I tried I tried to talk.
"I'm going to miss you." I cried into her shoulder. We'd literally stopped walking and stood smack dab in the middle of her hall.
"I know, but you'll have Fatou and Jacob." she said rubbing my back.
"But it's not the same. Jay is my boyfriend and Fatou is my best friend. I can't use them to replace my sister. It doesn't work like that."
I slid down the wall and brought my knees up to my chest. Right after, Breezy did the same. I stopped crying. We didn't talk. Not a word was mentioned. Instead, we enjoyed each other’s presence, because this would be the last time for a while.
Yeah, we live in Chicago, and Notre Dame is only in the next state over (Indiana), we'll both be busy. Miya will be doing college work and playing basketball. I'll be really focused on school, especially since I'm a junior now. This is the year colleges’ look at. Oh, and let me not forget that test I take. The SAT's I think it's called.
"Girls?" I heard my mom call. "It's time for us to go. It's already two AM. You two have been out there sleep for hours."
I rubbed my eyes and climbed up off the floor. I shook Breezy so she'd wake up, too. I helped her up off the floor and we trudged back to her room.
My parents were sitting on her bed, ready to go. The only thing holding us back was our goodbyes... The hardest part.
We all formed a 'group hug' and held each other tight. Not much of a conversation, just "I love you" and "Be safe."
We left her room and rode the elevator down to the first floor. Before leaving, we promised we'd be back in a month or so, when everything was settled and more relaxed.
The car ride was quiet and a little long from the anticipation of a month passing by. The rode was smooth and at time a little bumpy. The darkness of the night made the trees look like canopies of monsters. My mom and I had even fallen asleep. How? I don't know. There was so much on my mind. I couldn't believe that I'd be too busy to see my own sister who was only the next state over.
I don't even know if I'm making any sense to you, guise. But I hope you get what I'm trying to say.
Arriving home, I was the last out of the car. My dad was even too lazy to park in the garage, so the car sat in the drive way.
I'd taken my time walking up the drive way and to my house. My head hung low. My eyes were weary and I was exhausted.
The stairs to my room are what got me the most. I was so lazy, I felt like collapsing onto the rug covered stairs... I made it, though.
I dragged myself into my room and quietly closed the door behind me. I dropped my bag and watched everything in it tumble out. Oh well.
Am I over exaggerating? Should I really be this upset? I feel like I shouldn't... But I can't help it. I'm gonna miss her.
"Hey, you."
"Jacob?" I asked looking up. I walked over to him and sat down on my bed. How did I not notice he was in here? How did he get in here?
"I knew you'd be bummed out so I talked to your parents about meeting you here when you got back. They were reluctant about it at first, with it being 4 AM and all, but eventually they gave in." he said, explaining himself. "They gave me a copy of the key so I'd already be in here before you got back."
I hugged him tightly as a thank you.
"I got you some ice cream." Jacob said handed me the cup.
"Cookies and Cream?" I asked.
"Of course." he said kissing my forehead.
"You know, you can't solve everything with ice cream." I told him, smiling a little.
"I know, but it makes you happy. So why not?"
"Yeah... and you really make me happy. You're always here when I need you."
"That’s my job."
YOU ARE READING
Soldier of Love
Fanfiction"I look into his eyes and I can see that he's realized he's done wrong. He always does wrong, but this time he knows he's in for it big time. The greatest understanding he's come to know is there's no turning back. What's done is done. But behind al...
