A Sip Of Forever

CHAPTER 3

Night gradually creeped in, as Elara walked home, holding a black cellophane in her hand. The air smelled heavy, that damp warning that the rain was coming. She walked fast, praying she'd make it to the house before the clouds broke. Halfway down the street, the first cold drop landed on her cheek, then another. Within seconds, the sky opened up, rain falling on messy, uneven sheets.

“Great” she muttered, tucking her chin down and quickening her pace. As she got closer to her door, the blast of Camella's music shook the thin wall of the apartment.

The song Flashlight by Pitch Perfect played out at full volume. It was Camella's favorite song, as she danced in practice rhythm and clutched her hairbrush like a microphone singing word-for-word.

🎶When tomorrow comes, I'll be on my way.

🎶 Feeling frightened up

🎶The Things that I don't know

🎶When tomorrow comes

🎶 Tomorrow comes

🎶Tomorrow comes

The song was an inspiration, as Camella spun round. The chorus swelled, and she sang louder, sweat dotting her forehead, heart pounding with the beat.

“Camella”, Elara's voice suddenly cut through the music like a cymbal crash. Turn that music down. It's late already”

Camella groaned but hit pause, the silence feeling almost wrong.

Elara appeared in the living room, one hand on her hip, the other clutching the black cellophane. She stared hard at her sister as she scrolled through her phone.

“Elara, please just this one last play” Camella pleaded, with her eyes half closed.

“No, you are creating a nuisance. "The neighbors will soon start complaining about the sound,” Elara said as she walked towards her room. “ Use your headphones.”

“Fine,” Camella said, as she reluctantly turned the music down.

Elara laughed as she walked into the kitchen. That was Camella's defeated tone. She knew she had ruined Camella's joy at that moment, but she had no choice as the sound was loud in the neighborhood. Elara went into the kitchen and prepared pasta and meatballs for dinner. The smell was wafting around the house even before she was done. It smelled good-peppered mincemeat drifting in red alongside the garnished pasta. As they ate, they spoke and laughed at every silly joke. Halfway to the food, Elara felt a sudden, sharp cramp twisted in her lower abdomen.

She ran to her room, reached for a bag in her wardrobe and pulled out a pad.

"Oh! no….” She gasps, instinctively pressing a hand to her stomach. Her period got started

When she was done changing, she stayed in bed and didn't go to the dining room. She sat at her bedroom window viewing the beautiful city. She watched as people still went about their day's hustle while others retreated back home for the night's rest. She heard Camella walk into the kitchen and then went into the room.

“Are you alright?” Camella asked, her eyes looking down at her.

“Yes, just menstrual cramp” Elara said, pressing a hand to her stomach.

“Ouch, Monthly visitor” Camella said and burst into laughter.

Elara looked at her sister and joined the laughter. They held each other's hands as they laughed. Nothing funny but it felt safe.

“What is this?” Camella asked, her eyes dashing to the black cellophane on Elara's bedside stool.

“It's nothing Camella,” Elara said as she hid the black cellophane.

She sat on the cane chair in her room and playfully dragged her sister to herself.

“You need to come down. Mateo is here”, Camella said, running out of the room.

Elara froze in her seat, feeling the skin of her arms melding and becoming one with the cane arm of the chair she sat with

“Why is he here?” Elara asked mechanically,

“I don't know. "There's only one way to find out”, Camella said in the doorway.

Elara walked to the living room with her sister and saw Mateo sitting on the couch.

“ Please, I'm sorry about the way I screamed at you Babe”

Elara and Camella glanced at each other. They knew Mateo as a manipulative human and his pleading was fake. He always has a way of pleading if something unpleasant sticks out his head.

“Why are you here by this time, Mateo?” Elara asked in a tired tone of one who didn't really care.” You could have waited for tomorrow”.

“I couldn't wait till tomorrow,” Mateo said, looking around the living room towards the kitchen and then the hallway, as if he was waiting for a signal to speak. “I need help Babe.”

Camella left them and went into the room, eavesdropping on their conversation.

“What kind of help?” Elara asked as she sat on the couch.

“I need some money to sort out debts. "Some friends lend a helping hand, and now they won't stop calling till I pay up”, Mateo said, his head buried in between his hands.

Elara stared at her for a while, surprised, widening the narrow eyes that so easily became red-spotted.

“You need to sort out your problem. I don't want to get involved.”

Mateo got up and started shouting. His voice, cold. “ I know you will never help me." All you care about is yourself, no one else.”

Elara ignored him. She watched as Mateo threatened fire and brickstone on her.

“Okay, I will help, but just this once. If you screw up again, "I won't be available”, Elara said and walked into her room.

Camella was staring hard at her. When she walked in, she kept mute as Elara rampaged her tiny bag searching for some dollars she kept in it. She left the room and sat beside Mateo, handing the money to him.

“ Thank you Babe,” Mateo said as he placed a warm kiss on her lips and left the house.

Elara slowly walked into the room. It was really a stressful day for her as she yawned constantly. Camella sat on the bed, waiting for Elara to have her bath.

When Elara came out, Camella gave her an odd look, her eyes holding thousands of questions.

“Why did you give him the money?” Camella asked, almost a whisper.

“I love Mateo and I couldn't stand him in pain”

Camella looked at Elara silently for a while. Her expression held disappointment. She was not happy with her sister's actions.

“You shouldn't have given him that money," Elara. For God's sake, Mateo will never change his lifestyle. "Can't you see it?” Camella asked, her voice rising.

“Elara kept mute. She knew that Camella had many expectations of her and she failed in one.

“Camella, just let it be,” Elara said as she lay in bed and covered herself. Camella sighs and joins her. They spoke with their hearts as they stared at each other. Soon sleep engulfed them.