That storm had all of us settled into a weird routine, like we were a messy little family that argued every few hours but still shared snacks and laughter amidst the chaos.
I knocked softly on the bedroom door.
No answer.
“Isis… it’s me.”
Still nothing.
Sighing, I pushed the door open anyway. Isis was curled up under a throw blanket on the bed, facing the window. Isis’s mascara was smudged, and she wiped her eyes angrily, as if she were blaming them for leaking tears.
“Can I come in?”
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t tell me to leave either.
I stepped inside slowly, closing the door behind me with a soft click.
“You good?”
“Do I look okay?” she shot back, her voice scratchy and raw.
“No. That’s why I’m here.”
Isis sniffed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. I kind of figured he still loved you, but I guess... hearing it and watching him say it out loud like that, as if I wasn’t even standing there...”
She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips through her tears.
“I knew I didn’t stand a chance,” she whispered. “You’re beautiful, smart, your booty is built like God took his time and looped back twice, your skin glows like you drink spring water straight from heaven, and you cook like Big Mama raised you herself.Of course,he loves you.”
I let out a soft chuckle as I sat on the edge of the bed. “Okay, thank you… although that was a long-ass compliment. But are you done being dramatic?”
“Almost. Your gritsarereally top-tier.”
We both cracked up, the tension gradually dissipating.
“Seriously, I came up here thinking maybe I could win him over, but girl, he ain't never left you.”
My smile faded slowly, and I felt the lump in my throat thicken as reality seeped in. My hand rested on my thigh, and my voice dropped to a whisper.
“Me and Bryce... we have a special bond you probably don’t know about.”
Isis turned toward me, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “What kind of bond?”
I stared ahead, searching for the words that never came easily.
“We had a daughter,” I divulged.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait... what?”
I nodded slowly, the weight of the memory settling heavily upon me. “A stillborn. Her name was Journey. She didn’t make it, and after that... neither did we. We tried to hold on, God knows we did. But losing her...”
The words trailed off, leaving a heavy silence in their wake.
"It broke us in a way that made loving each other hurt.”
Isis sat up straighter, her expression shifting from surprise to empathy as she covered her mouth.
“Oh my God! I didn’t know.”
