Scattered Stars

Chapter 43

Dian

I couldn't believe my eyes, I actually had to shake my head to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.

Victoria.

She was standing in my bedroom. Alive. Fucking alive.

I dragged my eyes from the black ankle boots she was wearing to the ripped black jeans and jacket she had over a grey shirt that was peeking through. Why was she wearing a jacket in this weather?

My sister was seriously alive, and for a moment it felt like my brain was having a malfunction like it didn't know how to react to her being here.

I have always imagined scenarios of her return, in one scenario there is a knock at the door and my mother tells me to open it and grudgingly I saunter down the stairs and snap the door open and there stands my sister, her wavy long blond hair glimmering like gold in the bright sunlight, her eyes bluer than the ocean and her pink lips drawn into a confident smile, without hesitation, I spring into her arms I embrace her and she spends the whole day telling me why she left.

But now, her hair is dyed black with a dark purple hue creeping up the tips of her ear long hair, it doesn't glimmer in the sunlight but it does make her skin look more pasty. Her eyes don't look blue like the ocean they look devoid of any emotion but guilt and her lips are drawn into a quivering smile, it doesn't even seem genuine.

"Get out," I say.

"Dian, " my sister stammers as she takes a step towards me.

"I said get the fuck out of my bedroom," I demanded. Silence fills the room and heavy breathing is the only sound that can be heard.

My sister releases a heavy shaky breath, " I just wanted to say happy birthday." She reaches behind her back and reveals some kind of rectangular item, looks like a picture in brown wrapping. I don't reach for the item and she leaves it leaning on the wall. She hesitates for a second but once she sees the look in my eyes she turns around and slips through the door my mother looks after her for a bit then shakes her head and follows her downstairs. Once they are out I head for the door and slam it shut the sound echoing through my room.

"Dian breathe, " a voice says over the sound of waves crashing. I'm confused for a moment, why would there be sounds of waves crashing... And just like that, I start hyperventilating.

My head snaps to the left when I feel a hand on my arm. It's Naledi. Naledi is okay, she is safe, she loves me and she is going to help me.

I let her lead me to the bed and I sit when she nudges me onto the bed. Her mouth is moving but for some fucked up reason I can't hear her and bloody hell my chest hurts. The air leaving my chest is fast and a bit coarse it feels like it's bruising my lungs.

Naledi's eyebrows are furrowed and she's not smiling she has a serious look on her face, she looks worried, why would she be worried? But then again I'm not sure because my head starts to ache and I begin feeling a bit lightheaded.

She starts doing this weird thing where she takes deep breaths and blows them out so close to my face that I can feel the warm air so I mimic her actions and my head doesn't feel so light anymore.

"That's good, Dian, you are doing so good baby." She praises once the noise begins to fade away.

"There you go, " my breathing begins to level and I feel a bit more in control. She reaches for my face and wipes the tears that had wet my face and she places a comforting kiss on my lips.

"Sh-she's here, " I hear myself stammer. Naledi's expression softens and she nods yes.

"Yes she is but she is downstairs so you can gather yourself just a bit okay?" I nod in response and run a hand through my hair.