sign or willingness to be with her, she would not be exposing her feelings to her again. Cold stone walls were already rising around her aching heart.
Iris stayed still for a long moment, keeping her head down. There was nothing she could say to fix this right now. Instead, she simply got up and pushed her way out the door, letting it swing shut behind her. “Call me tomorrow?” She tried to pull some sort of response from Ginger, terrified that she would never see her again.
The question surprised her; Ginger glanced up to Iris, eyebrows raised in confusion. “Call you?” She found herself driven by some feral need to inflict pain back on the one who had hurt her. Ginger turned away, looking out ahead of her as she shifted the car into drive. “I don't think that would be a good idea Ri” before she could witness the pain her own words caused, Ginger was gone. The car lurching forward as she sped away from the only love she had ever known.
A single silver tear rolled down Iris’s soft cheek, falling to the pavement beneath her feet. She watched with great regret as the taillights faded into the night. Some part of her knew this wasn’t the end. They cared for each other too much to stay apart. Didn’t they? She turned on her heel and began the slow trek up the walk to her front door. Returning to the life that was comfortable should have been easy for Iris. All she had ever wanted was to be normal, to fit in. Stepping back into this life should have created some sense of belonging. Yet somehow, everything was different now. She had been displaced, changed to her very core. Deep down, Iris knew nothing would ever be
ELLICIT 2
Apples to almonds:
Iris sat huddled over a small oak dining table that was propped in the center of an extravagant kitchen. “This sucks” she sighed as she mulled over a bowl of cheerios, drizzled in Almond milk, a look of utter misery plastered on her features, not entirely interested in eating this morning. Events from the previous day were replayed in her head over and over again, making her stomach churn. Sleep hadn’t come easily, echoes of Gingers words caused her to toss and turn. Eventually, the attempt at sleep proved futile, when the sun began to filter in through her window, creating long shadows across the floor.
'Good Morning cupcake” Her mother chimed happily as she entered the kitchen in a fluffy pink robe and matching slippers. Laura Delaney, almost an older version of Iris. With a slight smile Iris watched her mother tug a hand through her long dark brown hair. Hardly anyone believed Laura was well into her forties; she had a pristine complexion and timeless features. There were laugh lines around her soft green eyes that only served to give her face more character. Iris often wondered how much laughter it would take to get lines like those.
'Morning.' Iris responded sleepily, making another attempt to shovel the cereal into her mouth. 'I broke curfew last night.' Iris had never been able to lie to her mother, especially about things she knew she was already aware of. It was far easier to just confess and get it over with.
Her mother shook her head with a small laugh. 'I know.' the sly reply made Iris wince, her mother seemed to know everything, even before she committed the crime. She waited for the untold punishment to be decreed as her mother crossed to the fridge to pull out a gallon of Apple juice. 'What should your punishment be I wonder?' Laura grinned playfully.
Iris stirred her cheerios idly in the bowl and watched the whirlpool effect it created with fading interest. 'Death, most assuredly, commence the beheading.' the dry response was partly serious; all she wanted to do right now was curl up and die. With a sigh of disgust she pushed the bowl away from her, and then pulled her eyes up to reluctantly meet her mothers.
'Goodness, I was just going to put you on dish duty for a week. What has you so down?' The previous jovial tone her mother held was now one of genuine concern as she moved to the cupboard to pull down a cup. 'Anything I can help with?'
Iris shook her head and placed her chin in the palm of her hand as she propped her elbow dramatically on the counter with a sigh. 'Ginger and I had another big fight…Huge ….Huge fight' She said as she attempted to stifle a yawn.
Her mother chuckled, and then moved to sit at the table beside her 'Relationships have their ups and downs cherub, but you two always work it out. Remember last summer? You swore you would never speak to Ginger again, and in less than a week you guys were joined at the hip once again.' She grinned playfully as she reached out to poke the point of Iris’s nose with the tip of her finger.
'It’s different this time…' she struggled with the knowledge that this would be a subject she couldn't openly share with her mother. “Way different.” There came a sudden, cold realization, she had lost the one person she could confide in about anything. It made her stomach harden into cold stone. 'You're right' Iris conceded, not wanting to take the subject any further. The last thing she needed was to have her mother die of a stroke. She could see the news article now: ‘Daughter comes out of the closet, Kills popular socialite Laura Delaney.’ With a false smile she continued “We will work it out.”
'I am sure you will.” It was a tentative comment, before her mother motioned to Iris’s attire. The exact same thing she had worn the day before. “Is this a new fad or something? Because, I don’t think even your prize winning smile can deter people from noticing wrinkled clothes and the smell of old sweat sock.” It was a playful jibe at Iris’s lack of wardrobe change, and a subtle reminder of the responsibilities they had as a family. Always, they had to be perfect dolls for her father to show off.
Iris looked down to scrutinize herself and sighed. “Did you get a dress for the Charity Banquet tonight?” she murmured, eager to change the subject.
“Yes!” Her mother beamed. “I got one for you too.”
“What?” Iris blinked back surprise “I am going too?” She should have seen this coming. After she had graduated with honors, her parents had developed huge plans for her at her fathers’ law firm. This included becoming a personal assistant, and then once college courses began, he would make her an intern, which would ultimately flow into becoming a lawyer herself. It was pretty cut and dry. She was to follow in his footsteps. This meant she would now be a part of all the formal functions too.
“Of course you are!” Her father’s voice a low timber poured into the kitchen, warm and kind. He wore a blue cotton robe, as he always did on Saturdays. Timothy Delaney, the best Lawyer in the state of Florida. Iris adored him. His skin tone was substantially darker than her or her mothers. It was a natural dark tan that complimented his hazel eyes. To Iris, it seemed the only thing she had gotten from the entanglement of her parents DNA was his noble structured nose, and how it curved so slightly at the tip. Iris passed him the warmest smile she could muster “I’ll be happy to attend.”
Her Father nodded as he walked behind her and ruffled her hair “We have a long day ahead of us kiddo, looks like you will have the house to yourself.” He moved to her mother and gave her a warm kiss on the cheek before reaching across the table to unravel a package of bagels.
“It’s going to be wonderful.” Her mother grinned. “Your father and I are going to spend the day at Le Mirage Resort and Spa, where we will be massaged, oiled, exfoliated, trimmed and primped” The excitement in her voice was hard to miss. Her mother simply adored these sorts of trips.
Iris couldn’t help but smile. “You two deserve a break.” she chimed. After last night, Iris needed time alone. She had to gather her thoughts. Even if it meant staying in bed all day, mourning the loss of something she barely even recognized. What why her chest aching, like someone had ripped a hole in it?
Iris fell silent, lost in thought, the murmur of her parents’ banter echoing around her. How she envied their relationship. They hardly ever fought, and when they did, it was so brief one wouldn’t even notice. They adored each other, and loved her just as much. She pondered if she could ever be like that with Ginger, if they could ever be that happy and comfortable.
No. Things didn’t work like that in this world of high society. It didn’t matter if you were happy. In this world, if you were different, you were scrutinized. People you considered friends, would happily drag your name through the mud if it meant they could get little bit higher on the social ladder. She doubted even her father’s sparkling reputation could survive the mudslinging that would erupt if she chose to follow her heart. How could she so selfishly ruin him? The answer was so simple, yet it stung all the same. She couldn’t.
Iris was torn from deep thought as the doorbell, with its whimsical tune echoed through the large condo. All
