The Red Flag

Part LXIV - "Little Ms. Barbie"

After putting my real clothes back on, I left the dressing room to find Elijah already up at the counter. A sizable violet bag sat next to the register. Something told me there was more than just my green nightie in that bag. Meanwhile, the woman behind the counter could not be more thrilled with the fact that Elijah was talking to her. Her smile was so wide you would have thought she was meeting her idol.

As I got closer to them, I was able to make out more of this person. She couldn't have been more than twenty-eight years old. Her makeup was immaculate along with her choice of clothing. A tasteful maroon colored top hung off her shoulders. Parts of her hair were pinned back to expose her delicate cheekbones.

This woman was a splitting image of Ebony Harington. Yes, the same Ebony that stole Jason from me all those years ago. Jesus, the two even shared the same smug look. Like they're celebrating a victory after winning a battle.

Well get ready bitch, cause we're about to win the war.

Oh no. I could practically feel the words coming up like vomit. There was no telling what would come flying out of my mouth in this situation. The uncertainty scared me. But what agitated me more was not knowing exactly how much control my other side had over me.

Once I finally stood beside Elijah their conversation came to an abrupt halt. The woman's dark brown eyes shifted to me, almost in amusement.

"You must be Amelia," she started. "Your friend was just telling me a little about you."

Your friend? How presumptuous of her. 

"Oh really?" I turned my head to Elijah as he stood sheepishly. "Like what?"

She clicked her nails against the granite countertop.

Fake press-ons. This bitch's nails are plastic as her tits. How much do you wanna bet she got a boob job during college?

"Just that you're spending the weekend here. And that you have a knack for reading people."

A dangerous smile cracked my lips. A smile that did not belong to me. Oh, no. No. No. Was this because I stood in front of the mirror too long? I could feel my other half creeping beneath my skin.

"I'm afraid my boyfriend may have over exaggerated my skills," I commented with a hint of edge in my voice. 

I felt the air thicken around us.

Ms. Barbie tilted her head to the side. "Could you give me a demonstration?"

My brows lifted. "You want me to read you?"

Oh, please let me at her! It's been forever since I've picked someone apart. And this cocky bitch is literally asking for it.

I took a deep breath, and pushed the biting urge to tear this woman down.

"I. . . I don't think so," I struggled to say. My god, it felt like claws were slicing my insides.

"Oh, come on." she pushed, "I'm intrigued."

No. I couldn't let the voice win. Even though there was a slicing pain that was cutting through my frontal lobe, I needed to stay focused. I can't lose control. Not now. The voice started out low.

Let me in. . . Let me in. . . Just let me in, girl. Let go. Are you really going to let this woman speak to you like that? You let everyone in your life bulldoze over you. Well I'm not going to just sit back and take it.

I gritted my teeth and let the words begin to flow. Anything to make the pain stop.

"Alright." I planted both hands on the counter. I scanned her head all the way down to where her handbag sat near her feet.

"You're a single woman. Not that proud, independent kind of single, but the type that envies what others have. You love gossip, you feed off of other people's drama. Your life is so damn boring that you have to create your own drama- as pathetic as that sounds. Now, if I had to make a wild guess, I would say that you're the type of person who's fucking their best friend's fiancé. Not because you actually like that person, but because you think it makes you powerful. When in reality you go home every night alone to that dark, one bedroom apartment in hopes that there will be a late night phone call from the guy. But there never is."

I watched the woman's eyes widen in panic. Was what I was saying to her actually true? It didn't matter if it was or not. I wanted it to stop. But the voice in my head was still in control. It continued to rip into this woman ruthlessly.

"No phone calls, no messages. So, instead you make plans to sabotage the relationship by showing up at the guy's work and filling your friend's head with lies. To sum it all up in a neat little package, you're the other woman."   

I felt my body pull in closer to to her. I whispered in her ear, only for her to hear.

"May this be a word of advise for you, little Ms. Barbie. Stop trying to meddle in other people's affairs, because it makes you as cheap as the implants in your chest."

And just like that, the voice slithered to the back of my mind. Back into the dark. And I was released from the hold that overcame my body.

I couldn't stop trembling. I pulled back, my nostrils flaring in anger at myself. I couldn't look either one of them in the eye.

Holy shit. Did I really just say all of that?

"I'm so sorry," I hushed under my breath.

I covered my mouth with a trembling hand and quickly left the shop, without looking back.

I must have walked a couple of blocks because by the time I stopped my feet were sore. Elijah wasn't far behind me. He tried calling out for me but I never slowed my pace. I couldn't look at him right now.

My stomach turned over. God I felt sick. How could I have done that to a complete stranger?

That snooty bitch had it coming and you know it. Come on, admit it. You liked the feeling of knocking her down. Watching her smug expression break across her face like shattering a glass window gave even you satisfaction.

"No," I answered back.

Liar. You held up a mirror, showing that woman who she really is. You loved the broken look on her face with every ugly remark. Because at the end of the day, she knows you're right about her.

"It doesn't make it right!"