The silky covers brush softly against Viv’s legs. Lying with her head on Lilyana’s stomach, she matches their breathing. An overwhelming feeling of relief and happiness has her chest tightening almost painfully. The knot in her chest starts to unravel as Lilyana soothingly runs her fingers through Viv’s hair. The tranquil atmosphere begs her to forget about the future, about what is to come…
“I’m leaving,” Viv whispers into the room. Lilyana’s fingers freeze.
Sitting up, aware the bubble of calm they were lazing around in has popped, Viv takes Lilyana’s hand in hers. Looking into her eyes, she voices her needs. “I can’t stay here. I can’t keep pretending.”
“It’s not so bad,” Lilyana mumbles, pulling her hand away so she can hug herself.
Shaking her head, Viv proclaims, “I want to be able to hold your hand in public without second guessing myself. I want to be able to kiss you without worrying about getting caught. I want to be with you, truly. Wholly.”
“No, no,” Lilyana shakes her head forcefully, denying the truth within Viv’s words. Denying how right they feel.
“Come with me,” Viv urges Lilyana.
“I can’t,” Lilyana chokes. A fortifying breath. “I won’t. ”
“You would stay here? Trapped to be something you aren’t?”
“My family is here,” Lilyana explains rationally.
“I could be your family. Please, leave with me.”
“You would damn yourself out there? In a world you do not know?”
“Better damnation than death.”
“What?” Lilyana voices her confusion.
“Don’t act clueless. It’s unbecoming,” Viv says snidely, trying to hide her hurt. “I have been promised to your brother since I was thirteen. Every day that passes is a day closer to the inevitable wedding. A day closer to being suffocated and shackled in a life filled with unhappiness.”
“He is a good man,” Lilyana defends.
“Good man or not, I will be expected to perform certain tasks as a wife. We both will.”
A slap. Clutching her smarting cheek, Viv stares at Lilyana in shock. A tear escapes her, running down her freshly reddened skin.
“Don’t make my brother out to be something he is not,” Lilyana hisses.
Viv scoffs, lost in her shock. Closing her eyes, blocking out Lilyana from her sight, Viv states, “I’m leaving.”