“Thought I heard my name in here,” she said with a smirk.
Baba waved her away. “This is none of your concern, Lilit.”
Lilit entered the bedroom leisurely and sat against my old dresser. “Oh, I don’t know, George. When people are talking about me, I’d like to hear what they’re saying.”
“Lilit, I apologize, but we’re trying to protect Nairie,” Mom said.
Lilit assessed me like I was a piece of art and smiled.
A vote of confidence surged through me at that moment.
My aunt’s approving gaze gave me the strength I needed to do what was necessary. “I love you guys. You’ve always done what’s best for me and raised me to make good decisions. But I need my own space. I’m still going to see you at work and come to all the family and church events. It’ll be like I never left.”
I could tell my parents wanted to say more, to fight back, but with Lilit’s presence, they seemed to hold back. I wish she was here for all my battles.
“We will discuss this later,” Baba said in warning.
My parents left the room in a huff.
Lilit clapped her hands demurely. “Well done.”
I let out a huge breath. “I don’t even know how I did that.”
Lilit squeezed my shoulders and brushed my long hair to the side. “What does it feel like?”
I reflected and looked around my childhood bedroom like it was a distant memory. “It feels like my life is starting.”
Lilit smiled. “And I get a front-row ticket. You better pack everything you need from here. They probably think you’re going to cave and move back in tonight.”
I nodded, knowing she was right.
I started packing the essentials and stopped when I felt Lilit still staring at me. “What?”
“You look different. Better. Brighter.”
I blushed. Could she tell I lost my virginity that easily? Damn my family and their gypsy psychic powers!
“And those hickeys really bring out the color in your eyes.”
I laughed and hid my face in my hands.
“I’ll distract the family while you make your escape,” she said.
“Thank you.”
Lilit giggled excitedly. “I haven’t had this much fun since I commandeered that yacht in Crete.”
I looked back at her with raised eyebrows.
“A story for another time. Go, go!”
I slipped out and stuffed my trunk with the rest of my stuff.
Back at Elspeth’s, I settled the rest of my essentials in my room and started putting the final touches on my surfer drawing for the Instagram contest. I was working off a digital file of my drawing now, and when I finally felt like it was in a good enough place, I submitted it.
It would take a couple of weeks for them to announce the winner, so I focused my energy on my art class final. Elspeth and William were working at the pub, so I had the whole house to myself. Maybe it was all the sex and freedom, but I’d never been so inspired.
By late afternoon, I started brainstorming my aunt’s piece. I chose my favorite window seat in the living room and curled up with my sketchpad and headphones, doodling and ruminating on Lilit’s magnificent life. Images of mythological birds started taking shape, aswell as my aunt’s striking eyes. But something was missing. I wanted Lilit to have something she adored.
