How long has it been since he heard that name? Spoken softly by his mother and sister, or yelled in harsher tones because of some playful thing he did, called in the same breath as his sister so they would come to eat. He remembers a polished greenish stone in his hand, semi-precious as he was told, but to him it felt like gold. Running his thumbs over it, learning how smooth it was, how heavy. And yet not nearly as precious as his sister's hand in his when he no longer could find her.
She calls his name, and he comes alive again.
All of the relief, all of the grief, rises up into his throat. He reaches for her hand.]
« Yasmin. »
[Who cares about the coffee or cake. He gets up and skirts around the bistro table, and pulls her tight against him.]
3/3
How long has it been since he heard that name? Spoken softly by his mother and sister, or yelled in harsher tones because of some playful thing he did, called in the same breath as his sister so they would come to eat. He remembers a polished greenish stone in his hand, semi-precious as he was told, but to him it felt like gold. Running his thumbs over it, learning how smooth it was, how heavy. And yet not nearly as precious as his sister's hand in his when he no longer could find her.
She calls his name, and he comes alive again.
All of the relief, all of the grief, rises up into his throat. He reaches for her hand.]
« Yasmin. »
[Who cares about the coffee or cake. He gets up and skirts around the bistro table, and pulls her tight against him.]