Rendezvous at Silver Lining

Kris:(Trigger warning!!)

I gazed down at my bestie, who slept so peacefully on the couch, after speaking with someone on the phone all night. My guess is that it was definitely her boss. She thought I went right to sleep after our little discussion, but I was still awake. I walked out into the living room to see if she was ok since she was out there for so long. I came across her out on the balcony, on the phone talking and sketching. I wanted to say something but chose not to. I've known Divi long enough to know when she starts getting in her head again. She's had a rough go of things since we were children. I'm just happy she has outlets for when her mind becomes jumbled… Her sketching is a clear sign that she definitely has a lot on her mind. She knows she can talk to either Bin or I, but it's always nice when she can help herself process things on her own as well. I left to let her have her moment and went back into the room. I laid down and was on my phone just scrolling through when I finally drifted back off to sleep. Binny woke me up scared because she thought she dreamt of Vinnie coming back home last night since she wasn't in bed. I laughed first, then reassured her Divinity was fine and was out on the couch. After she finally calmed down from having a heart attack, she got herself together and made us breakfast. I got myself together as well. We all chatted once Vinnie finally woke up. When she went over the details of the night before, I was so happy she got to experience so much attention, and it was attention that she wanted. She's usually very closed off and unaware of the gazes she attracts. I'm grateful those two billionaires are hard to ignore, even for my heavily dense friend. What I didn't like was the hoe in the rundown cause you're asking to get your feelings hurt by messing with my friend. I'm like that with all my friends, but especially Divinity. Like I said before, we've known each other since we were kids. We lived on the same block and our parents were good friends. I still remember the night Divinity's parents were killed. We were both 9 years old at the time.

It was the middle of summer and well into the night. I remembered being in bed already, when I heard my mom yell Divinity's name from downstairs. I looked at my alarm clock on the table and saw it was 12:30 in the morning. We had planned on going on to an amusement park the next day, so I was a bit excited and couldn't sleep. I remember hearing the fear in my mom's voice. Even back then, Divinity was like a sister to me. I rushed down the steps and was met with a shell. The person I saw in front of me was not the same Divinity I saw earlier that day. Her pajamas were covered in blood, and there was some on her face, too. She clung to my mom, but her face was devoid of any emotions. The only way I knew she felt anything was because of the trail of tears that fell from her eyes continuously without fail. My father went charging outside with his gun in hand, trying to see if he could see if anyone was outside and to be sure his family was safe. Dad and my mom circled Divinity, trying to ensure her that she was ok. My dad called the police while my mom tried to pry Vinnie’s hands from her waist. Mom looked at me and saw my fear, but she also acknowledged my worry. She knew how much I loved her. She called me over to try and help comfort Vinnie. I reached out to her and touched her shoulder. She flinched away from me. It took everything in me not to cry. I called out her name and touched her again, and it was like she registered my voice because once she did, she burst into tears. She flung herself to me and held me tightly, but I would never let her go. We cried together. I didn't care if it got blood on me. My best friend needed me. My mom took pictures of Divinity for when the police came because she was not about to allow her to be a spectacle and walk around like a damn corpse. She gave both me and her a bath, which wasn't new. Divinity's and my mom have been friends since before either of us were born. We found out later on that both her mom and dad were killed, and apparently right in front of her. We don't know how she got away or why her parents were targeted. The police never caught who did it.

Vinnie doesn't have any other family or at least none she knows about, and no one has ever come forward to say that they knew who she was. They were gonna send her to a foster home, but both my parents quickly said that they'd take her in. My parents loved her and her parents like family, so it was only natural for that to happen. Divinity wouldn't speak for days after that. We took her to therapy, and for a while, she said nothing. She was truly traumatized. We shared a room because she couldn't bear being alone. Most nights, she woke up screaming and crying. My dad and mom would come in and wrap her up in their arms and held her until she went back to sleep. After a while, we would all sleep in the living room together to make her feel safer. I hated that she had to go through that. She was afraid… so very afraid. Divinity used to be fearless, like nothing could hurt or harm her. It took a while before she reverted back to her usual self. But even to this day, I know the Divinity of now is not and could never be the Divinity she was destined to be from the jump. I don't know. Maybe she's a different version of the being she's meant to become, but I will never forgive anyone who hurts her. I love her so much, and I can not ever forget the moment fear was instilled in her, and I will never forgive the person who did it.

Her mother's birthday is coming up in a few weeks. I've recognized that she can become a little off close to her parents' birthdays and the anniversary of their deaths, which is to be expected. I think I'll speak with Binny and ask if she wants to make a day out of visiting Divinity's parents' gravesite with her. She usually goes to pay her respects on their birthdays, but I don't want her to go alone this year. Some probably would think it's burdensome to be Divinity's friend, but it's not. As much of a friend and confidant I am to her, she is for me. She's always had my back whenever I needed it. She's also helped me realize my dreams. You would think someone who went through what she did would be completely broken. She's not. She might have been broken, but every day, she chooses to put herself back together. I don't know if she will ever be whole again. Being broken can leave you with some jagged edges, but she's trying her best. You can't rebuild with the same material once shattered, but you can build something new from the ruins that may have the potential of being stronger than what was there before. Divinity gives me courage because I found her to be courageous. I can say she's strong because I've seen her at her weakest. She's just a great person to know, and I'm so happy to be able to say that I do.

My day ended with me heading back home after hanging out and getting on Robin's and Divi's nerves all day. Once I was satisfied knowing that I officially annoyed the hell outta them, I gladly went home.