Nuri was a natural beauty, so when it came to make-up she never had to do too much, but when she wore it she always was sure to do it right. She gave her face a soft glam—natural glow, subtle highlight, lips glossed to perfection. She grabbed her white designer, silk wrap dress that hugged every curve like it had been made just for her, and when she slid into her white Gucci stilettos, the vision was complete. She stood in front of her long mirror, manicured hands smoothing down the fabric appreciating how it hugged her perfectly sculpted frame.
She looked like success.
Like peace.
Like the woman she had always prayed to become.
She then removed her silk scarf, and walked back into her ensuite to hook up her flat irons. The second she turned them on, her phone chimed with a group text from her soror sisters.
Veta’s Group Text:Congratulations to all who will graduate today. We love you and can’t wait to support you in the next chapter of your life. Always remember—you can count on your sister circle no matter where life takes you.
Before she could type a reply, Bre’s smiling face popped up on her screen. Nuri answered instantly.
“Wassup, sis!” she grinned, Nuri energetically answered, the smile on her face evident on her face.
“Hey, my baby! How you feelin’? Today is our big day! You ready?!” Bre replied, matching her excitement.
Nuri laughed, full and free. “Babyyy, I cannot wait! You heard me? Once I finish my hair, I’ma be ready to shut some shit down!”
“I’m almost done too, sis,” Bre said. “I was calling to get your opinion real quick. I’m stuck between this black pants and blouse set, or that satin red dress I been dying to wear.”
“I got’cha. FaceTime me real quick so I can see.”
"Okay, give me just a second," Bre said, quickly slipping on her robe, then tapping on the button to connect with Nuri on FaceTime.
“Ooh, Sis! You look so pretty! And you’re glistening!” Nuri hyped her up.
“Thank you, boo! I feel amazing. Now let me show you the outfits.”
Bre turned the camera, giving her a full view.
Nuri tilted her head, studying both options. “Wow, I love them both. But... I think you should go with the red. That’s you all the way, and it accentuates your personality perfectly.”
“I swear you know me so well, sis!”
“I better! We been friends for a long time.”
“Yesss. Alright, I’ll see you in a few. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Just as their call ended, her phone lit up again—this time, it was a text from Silas.
Si: Loving you for a living is all a nigga tryna do… All you gotta do is let me.
Si: Picture message
This man...
This is why Nuri loved her some Silas Sullivan. He made her heart melt. He made her feel away, and it wasn't always sexual. He made her feel special. It wasn’t just his looks, his presence, or the way his voice dipped low when he talked just to her. It was his spirit. The way he saw her. The way he made her feel safe, even when the world felt like it was spinning off its axis. Silas had a way of tapping into untouched corners of her soul, making her fall for him all over again every time he opened his mouth.
You already know it’s yours forever. I’m just tryna make sure I look good next to you. ??
Instead of sending a picture of herself right then, Nuri scrolled to her picture gallery, and picked an image of her posing in lingerie the morning after they’d had multiple sex sessions.
Silas hearted the picture then replied right away.
Si: Yo’ ass play all day, but I got somethin’ for that ass tonight. ??
