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I haven’t seen her in years.
I was eleven when she walked out and never looked back. At the time, I didn’t understand why, but growing up with my father, I realized she wasn’t leaving me as much as she was leaving him. My father was a difficult man to get along with mainly because of his job. And now that he’s no longer here, now that I’m alone in the world, I wish she would come to find me.
I blink once, twice, and lean closer to the mirror to focus on the black liner that I swipe along the lid of my left eye. Once I get the swish, I continue with the right one. Even though my mother wasn’t present when I wanted to learn about makeup, boys, and anything else I should’ve been able to ask her about, I had Rukaiya who guided me along the way.
My eyes are wide, the contacts making the ordinarily deep blue pop as if there is a flame dancing behind the irises. I’m all grown up now, and it’s time I acted like it.
I’m excited about the party tonight, perhaps I’ll see Tarian again; he was friendly. But even as I think this, my mind flits back to the guy in shadows who reminded me of a predator. As if he was about to attack me, stealing me in the dark and making me his.
A cold shiver trickles its way down my spine at the thought, and I try to push it away. Focusing on the mirror, I pull my hair into a hair tie.
Even though going tonight is not my idea of fun, I promised Rukaiya I’d be more outgoing. So, I’m going to have fun tonight and stop hiding my nose in my books.
“Dahlia, your friend is here,” Gran calls from the hallway.
“Thanks, Gran.” I smile, just as the door swings open, and I’m met with my best friend. She’s all dolled up, and I wonder if I’m underdressed, even though I’m wearing a lot less than I usually would. I’m more at home in sweatpants and a tee. Dresses are the last thing on my list to wear.
“Are you ready?” Rukaiya’s voice comes from the doorway, making me smile. Her blonde dreadlocks are shimmering with glitter, and I can’t help laughing. “What?” she asks, scrunching her nose.
“You glitter bombed your hair?” I question, taking in the small glints each time she swishes her long hair left and right. She’s one of the most beautiful girls I know. Her European heritage gives her a smooth alabaster skin tone, and her wide eyes are lighter than mine, almost silver.
“I figured I needed to look good. This is our first college party,” she tells me while arching her perfectly curved brow. Her dress hugs her hourglass figure in a dark charcoal material, which reminds me of silky spandex. Is there such a thing?
“I know, but you know what I’m like,” I tell her on a sigh. We went to school together in Washington, and she was the only friend I had at school that my father actually liked. He approved of her because her father was his partner. Together, they caught bad guys; it was the connection between them that afforded me a connection with Rukaiya.
My father’s job as an undercover cop was always something I feared. Deep down, I always wondered when he wouldn’t come home from a job. He never got to spend much time with me, and his fear was always that I would end up hurt because people would find out his identity and mine.
My father had always kept me locked up. I was a bookworm by nature, so I didn’t mind it. I got used to my own company. It’s my norm, and even now, I can’t understand why clubbing and partying is so popular. But then again, I live inside my own mind where fairytales and handsome boys are my real life.
If it weren’t for me being a book worm, more interested in the boys between the pages than those at school, Dad would’ve locked me in a tower until I was an old maid, graying with one foot in the grave. The two men ruled our homes with an iron fist, not allowing us to go out unless we had our phone apps locked-on tracking, so they could find us if need be.
“You need to stop being a homebody, sugar,” she coos. “Remember, you promised to let your hair down when we got here. It’s time to live. Your dad…” her words taper off into nothing, and the pain that pangs against my chest steal my breath.
Shaking it off, I nod. She’s right. I did say I would finally let myself enjoy the time I have here. I offer my best friend a smile and pull her in for a hug.
