I took a breath, voice low. “See, that’s the difference between me and you. Your pain come from love. From losin’ people who loved you. Mine? Mine come from bein’ invisible to somebody who was still alive.”
I looked at her straight in the eyes. “Sometimes I wish my pops was dead, so I’d have a better excuse for why he ain’t show up.”
The words hit me just as hard as they hit her. “Shit, why did I just say that out loud?”
Blyss didn’t flinch. She didn’t pull back.
“Because it’s the truth,” she said. “And you needed to hear it just as much as I did.”
I stared at her for a beat, chest tight, mind spiraling.
“What the hell is wrong with me today?” I muttered again. “Why do I feel like I’m unravelin’?”
She smiled, tears in her eyes this time. “Maybe because for once… you’re letting yourselffeel and be truthful without holding back.”
She gave a small smile, but it wasn’t pity. “You sound human.”
Without warning, I pulled Blyss into a hug. She didn’t tense up. Didn’t ask questions. Just melted into me like she knew I needed that more than air. She smelled good too, like vanilla and some kind of soft magic. And for a second, the noise in my head quieted down. We started walking, slow and aimless. It didn’t even matter where we were going. Then we spotted a hot dog standing up ahead. My stomach growled like it had beef with me, so we grabbed a couple and headed over to the pond. Blyss kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged, takin’ little bites while I tore mine up like I hadn’t eaten in days. She started tossing pieces of her bun into the water, and next thing I knew, a crew of ducks pulled up like she was the damn queen. She laughed, all soft and even snorted.
“Look at them waddlin’ over here like I got a buffet.”
I chuckled. “You do. They out here eatin’ better than me.”
Then, some old-ass man with a fishing hat and some ugly orthopedic sandals, marchin’ over like we disturbed his peace.
“Ma’am, you shouldn’t feed the wildlife. It throws off their natural behavior,” he scolded, all tight-faced and righteous.
Blyss got startled. “Oh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
I stood up , hot dog still in my hand, and eyes locked on the suck ass bitch.
“Nah. Don’t talk to her like that,” I spoke through my gritted teeth.
He squinted at me, clearly not expecting pushback. “I’m just informing her of the rules?—”
“You don’t speak to her, you don’t look at her, and you damn sure don’t approach her when she’s with me. That clear?”
“Kase—” Blyss tried to touch my arm, but I was already locked in.
“You got a badge, old man? Or just a pair of opinions and too much time?”
His eyes widened. “There’s no need to be aggressive, young man.”
I stepped forward. “Then watch your tone. She wasn’t hurtin’ nobody. Just lettin’ some birds eat a piece of bread, not settin’ off fireworks.”
Blyss tugged at my sleeve gently. “It’s okay. I’m not mad.”
I looked down at her, breathing hard. Then back at the old man, who clearly regretted waddling over more than the ducks did. He mumbled something about “young folks these days” and scurried off, defeated. I sat back down, still tense as Blyss laughed under her breath.
“You really were ready to throw hands for me, over ducks.”
“I’m just sayin’. Ain’t nobody gon’ talk sideways to you while I’m sittin’ right there.”
She leaned her head on my shoulder. “Well… thank you, Captain Duck Defender.”
I smirked. “Don’t play with me. I’ll fight for pond rights again if I gotta.”
The two of us kept talking. Just vibin’, slow and easy like time didn’t matter. Every now and then, we’d fall quiet, then start back up again like we didn’t want the moment to end. She’d say something soft, I’d tell her something real. I was always honest, but never this much. Never thisopen.It was like the words kept finding their way outta me… even the ones I thought I buried. But she never judged. Simply just listened. I couldn’t explain why, but being near her made me feel lighter. Like maybe I wasn’t as messed up as I thought. Truth was, I ain’t never felt safer with anybody other than my mom and brother. I ain’t know what was happening to me. I just knew it feltreal.
