Page 98 of Wings of Ebony
He really misses her.
I miss her too.
“After that I asked her out. It didn’t take long for me to decide I wasn’t coming back anytime soon, if ever. She had the most beautiful smile. She…” His eyes glaze over. “… I’d just never met anyone like her. So I stayed. I told her I’d figure out how to make it work. I told her…” His words trail off and he stares at nothing.
“It’s fine. I get it. I don’t usually talk about her either.”Hurts too much.
He says nothing for several moments. Then takes another bite and blots his mouth with his napkin. “Alaya nah, ick e’bah.”
“Alaya, what?”
“Alaya nah, ick e’bah—grow stronger in the pain. You need to study up on your Ancestors’ language.”
Alaya nah, ick e’bah.
Grow stronger in the pain.
Sounds like something Moms would say.
“Where would I even find a book like that?”
“I can get you one, if you’re really interested.”
“I might be; I’ll let you know.”
His lips curl the way mine do. I wonder how much he told Moms about this place. “So, uhm… did you and Moms…” I draw circles on the table with my finger.
He leans on his elbows on the table, smiling. “I’m listening.”
I draw more circles. “Nothing. Never mind. Tell me about the General.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. Another time.”
“Fair enough.” He winks, pushing his bowl aside. “So, the General. I’m thinking the safest place for you is here. He’s not getting through that wall.”
This dude, I swear. Three steps forward, two back. And if everyone here really believed that, why they walking around suited up in armor? That’s just Aasim trying to keep me close. Which is… kind. But nope. That’s not how it’s going down.
“I’m not staying here. No disrespect, but this isn’t my home. I’m not Ghizoni.”
He glances at the cuff I’m turning in my hand. “You are.”
Even if I was… how am I worthy of allthis? All they think I’m supposed to be able to do? “No. I’m not. Look, no use in us arguing. I have my sister, Ms. Leola…”
“Bring them here.”
He really doesn’t get it. “It’s not just one or two people. When you from where I’m from, the whole place is family. I told you that when you made me leave. I’m not leaving East Row. Who’s going to protect folks back home if I come here?”
“Who’s going to avenge the Ghizoni if you don’t?”
Sigh.
“I’m going home. You’re just gonna have to trust me on this. I need to be there with my sis. And besides, if I can draw him out to my neighborhood, that takes the heat off here.”
“Alright, well.” Aasim throws his hands up in surrender. “I’ll let it go for now, but your people here need you too.”
Mypeople are in East Row.
