Page 109 of Wings of Ebony
Alaya nah, ick e’bah.
My father saidgrow stronger in the pain. Moms saidmake a way. How? Maybe if I could hear it from them. Be reminded one more time. Why is time like that? Only precious when you don’t have it?
I need to hear I’m capable.
I need to hear I’m strong.
Maybe then I’d believe it. I rock back and forth, harder. Moms said I’m strong like a diamond. I shine under pressure. My father and his people acted like I’m some Ghizoni queen. They got me mistaken.
I’m nothing—a no one from the gutters of a block that only bleeds.
Another helper stops by, this one in a cop uniform. I see him touch my arm, but I don’t feel it. He tugs and I’m standing, somehow. He pulls me over to an ambulance and I’m sitting.
“People are saying you were at the center of what happened. Can you tell—” His mouth is moving, but I don’t really hear any of it. When he tucks his notes away in a forgotten file drawer, we’re still picking up the pieces of our lives off the street, bracing ourselves for the next tragedy.
It’s a few minutes of a job for him.
This is life for me.
I’m supposed to think they trying they hardest and pour out my heart so he can scribble some words on that notepad. I’m supposed tobelieve what I tell him will actually lead to someone like him coming to the Row’s defense. But he won’t, because it’s always something.…
They don’t have any leads.
They don’t know where his people stay.
They don’t have any hard evidence to pin to him.
Excuses.
But let homey stop in a mini mart in a rich white neighborhood with his hands in his pockets just because, and they busting down his family’s front door minutes later. Moms raised a diamond and diamonds are sharp. How do I even know this dude ain’t working with Litto’s crew? I glue my lips shut.
The cop taps his paper. “Okay, well, if you don’t have anything to share, I guess I’ll—”
His mouth slacks and the words come out slower. His whole face freezes and dust hangs in the air. Nothing around us shifts, like sound itself is muted.
Time stops.
Someone from Ghizon is here.
There in the middle of the chaos is a broad-shouldered figure in the shape of my father.
“Dad!” I barrel into him. He hugs around me, squeezing, and I squeeze back. I’m a child in his arms. And for once, I don’t care. He’s here to help, to really be there for me. He’s never done that… or maybe he has, and I was too stubborn to see. I press in to him tighter, his heart thudding against me.
My father is here to help! I—
Wait, does this mean?
No.
No, no, no!
“Your magic—it’s…” My mind is all fog, a tangled mess of thoughts. “Dad, your magic… it’s cursed… the death toll! Y-you can’t… the transport spell you took to get here.” I shove his chest. “Go, just go, get out of here before it’s too late,please!”
“It’s okay.” He strokes my hair. The hug that comforted me seconds ago stings.
“Rue.” He grips my arms, eyes hard, firm.He’s strong. So very strong. How did I not see that before? All this time, his tough choices were made from strength, not weakness.
“You can’t be here.” Sniffles muffle my words. “I won’t lose both of you. I won’t!”
