RADIANCE
551 Words
The next day, C & B shop didn’t open.
Closed sign.
Ribbon tied on the door.
Madam wanted them all to rest.
The previous week had been too busy.
Too loud.
Too much.
Liana woke up late.
Sunlight was already in her room.
Gold.
Lazy.
Sitting on her bed like it owned the place.
She sat up from the bed.
Her hair was rough.
Her face was flat from sleep.
Mouth dry.
Eyes puffy.
Real.
She stretched, arms to the ceiling.
And then her eyes caught the bouquet.
It was still standing straight in the glass vase.
Still fresh.
White and pink flowers.
From Leo.
Not dead.
Not wilted.
Still choosing to be beautiful.
A smile crept on her face before she was even fully awake.
Involuntary.
Like breathing.
She reached for her phone on the table.
Connected her headset.
White cord.
Old phone.
Pressed play.
_"Radiance" by Tems and Dave_ filled her small room.
Soft bass.
Tems’ voice like honey.
The music was calm.
Sure.
Like someone telling you _you’re allowed to glow._
Like someone giving you permission.
Liana stood up slowly.
Bare feet on the cold floor.
She watered the flowers like they were something sacred.
Drop by drop.
The morning light from her window hit the petals and made them shine.
Made them look like they were glowing from inside.
From the compound outside, Trisha yelled,
*Trisha: Omo! Someone is happy today!*
Liana laughed to herself and twirled once in her room.
Dress flying.
Hair flying.
For three seconds, she was just a girl.
She walked to the shelf.
Her dad’s picture was there.
Smiling.
And beside it, her plaque.
Gold.
New.
She touched both with one hand.
One for where she came from.
One for where she was going.
For three minutes, she felt it.
Really felt it.
The win.
The flowers.
The fact that someone saw her work and clapped.
That someone drove her home.
That someone called her Miss Champ.
Tems sang about being enough.
About light.
About not dimming.
Liana believed it.
For three minutes, she did.
Her phone buzzed on the table.
Not a call.
A message.
Screen lit up.
_Leo: Good morning shawty. How was your night?_
Liana’s smile didn’t drop.
Not yet.
It stayed.
Careful.
She typed back quickly.
Fingers fast.
_Liana: It was fine. How was yours?_
Three dots.
Blinking.
Then nothing.
The dots disappeared.
Two minutes later:
_Leo: It was fine... thought of you..._
The music was still playing.
Dave’s verse came in, low and honest.
Talking about love and distance and wanting.
Liana stared at the screen.
Read the message again.
And again.
_Thought of you._
Two words.
Three words.
It was casual.
Safe.
Nothing serious.
Right?
_Liana: Umm, that was nice. I slept off like a baby._
She locked her phone.
Click.
Turned the music up louder.
Tems was singing now.
About radiance.
About light that doesn’t ask permission.
But her hands were shaking a little as she picked up the vase.
Water sloshed.
Just a little.
*Liana: "Radiance,"* she whispered to the flowers.
*Liana: "Right."*
Outside, the sisters were still laughing.
Playing.
Living.
Inside, Liana was learning what it felt like to glow...
...while trying not to burn herself in the process.
Learning what it felt like to be warm and careful at the same time.
- Writer
