Page 48 of Feeling Blue

“I don’t know if you think I’m just a pushover or you’re really this rude, but either way, you need to cut it out. It’s not necessary at all. Your brother is grown and can do what he wants. If he wanted to lay up with me before coming to see you, then get over it already. He’s been locked up for two years,” Forever scoffed with a confused frown on her face. “What did you think was going to happen? That man needed some pus-, sex. Sorry, Ms. Maryann.”

“No need to apologize, Forever. You’re just fine, baby, and you’re right.”

The two of them traded smiles before Forever looked back at Zurena with a frown to match hers. The women stared at one another for a long, tense second before Blue intervened with his silliness.

“Alright now, y’all break this shit up before I be over there pulling Zurena up off your head, Forever,”

Her eyes shot to him as she frowned in disdain before falling into a loud fit of laughter. “Zurich, please leave me alone, sir.”

“Nah, he told you right.”

“Zurena, you’re miserable, sweetie.” Forever shook her head while still laughing at Blue. “You’re real messy, you know that?”

He nodded while walking to her and pulling her head back to peck her lips. “You know I had to mess with you. I’m not gon’ let that big bad Zurena hit my baby.”

Forever’s giggles were muffled by his neck as she covered her face in it while he hugged her. Blue’s hands were around her, tickling her waist, making her fidget in her chair with joyful laughter.

“You’re my favorite person, baby,” he whispered to her as his face hung inches away from hers.

Forever tugged at his lips with hers while rubbing the back of his head. “You’re mine too, cuz.”

Their laughter took over the corner of the kitchen where Forever was sitting as he stood to his feet and grabbed the plate his aunt was extending. He caught Zurena’s annoyed facial expression in passing.

“Yo, you need to get you a man. That might be your problem.”

“I don’t have a problem.”

“That nasty attitude is saying otherwise.”

“So, because I spoke on something that bothered me, I got an attitude?”

“If it’s not an attitude? What is it?” Blue did his best to ask her without showing the food in his mouth.

“Don’t worry about me, that’s what it is,” she held a straight face as long as she could before breaking out into a smile. “I really hate you, dog.”

“Sure, you do. Just come give your little brother some love.”

When Blue stood, Zurena followed suit and grabbed him. The hug they shared was two years overdue and felt better than ever. The feeling he got from his family was unmatched and hadbeen missed more than he’d known. This time around, he was going to do his best to stay around for them.

Hers, mine, Ours…

With the sun now setting and the sky growing darker, Zurena sat on her auntie’s porch in the wicker swing, gliding back and forth smoothly. She was full to the max and needed some fresh air before she popped. The food she’d consumed with her family had her so stuffed she was scared to even move, let alone make the long drive to her house. Though it wasn’t hours away, it was too far to drive while she was still so stuffed.

With nothing but a bottle of water and the warm weather, Zurena swayed in the wind, trying to dissect the thoughts crowding her brain. Her day had been better than it had been in a long time, being able to see and spend time with her brother was one of her favorite things to do, so finally being able to indulge had been good for her soul. Even if she did have to tolerate his goody-two-shoes girlfriend, Forever.

“I thought you were leaving,” Blue questioned as he exited the house with two trash bags.

“I was, but I’m so full, I needed to sit down for a minute.”

“Fat self,” he joked while walking to the street.

Zurena admired her brother in sheer happiness. His tall frame leaned a tad as he swaggered back toward the porch. His long hair moved along with him, stopping around his waist, close to his back. She smiled at him, loving how much he looked like their father. Blue was literally the spitting image of their dad, and it always made her feel good to see him again.

Being that she was the oldest, she had more memories of their parents than he did, and she did her best to share them with him every chance she got.

“You look just like daddy, Zurich. I wish he could see you.” Her throat tightened as her eyes followed him down into the cushioned rocking chair across from her.

“I know, auntie just told me the same thing.”

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