9. The Lesson in Loyalty
Morning came quietly. Jazz woke before sunrise, the soft glow of dawn barely touching the windows.
She slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to make any noise.
Today was her last day. Her flight would leave later that evening, and she wanted to do something special before she left.
Something small but meaningful. Breakfast. Kira had gone above and beyond for her this entire weekend, and Jazz wanted to return even a piece of that love before she left.
Her spirit felt lighter than it had in a long time.
Her energy felt different. Higher. Peaceful.
She hadn’t expected to have so much fun in just two days.
For a moment, she had forgotten the weight she carried back home.
What she didn’t know was that Kira had never fallen asleep.
Kira sat upright in her bed, staring into the darkness, her mind replaying the same thoughts over and over again.
Not once had she closed her eyes. So, when she heard Jazz’s footsteps moving toward the kitchen, she listened.
Jazz walked into the kitchen and quietly pulled out a few pots and pans, setting them on the stove.
Then she picked up her phone. She hesitated for a moment before unlocking it.
The first thing she saw was missed calls from Chill.
Maybe she should call him back. Or at least text him, she thought.
Either way she knew Chill was not pleased with her.
Before she could overthink it, she called his back.
“What the fuck is going on with you, Jazz?” Chill’s voice came through the phone, low and irritated. “What part of this ain’t getting through your big ass head, bitch?” Jazz glanced toward the hallway, lowering her voice immediately. The level of disrespect made her stomach twist it disgust.
“Listen, Chill… you’ve been doing too much,” she whispered. “Why would you even call me that many times last night? I was busy. The fuck.”
“I don’t give a fuck how busy you were,” he snapped.
“When I call, you answer. That’s it. That’s all.
We ain’t gotta have a whole conversation about it.
You know who the fuck I am. I suggest you act like it.
” His threats and mental abuse were becoming unbearable.
Jazz felt trapped, not knowing what else to do.
“Please don’t do this,” Jazz said quietly, her voice trembling slightly.
“You know how much I love Kira. I don’t understand why things have to be like this.
” She pressed the phone closer to her ear, trying to keep her voice low.
But it was already too late. Down the hallway, Kira heard everything.
She had heard the footsteps. She had heard the whispering.
And now… she heard his name. Her heart pounded as she moved silently across the floor, each step careful and deliberate.
She stopped just before the kitchen entrance.
Hidden just out of sight. Listening, Waiting, to hear the truth.
As Kira entered the kitchen, Jazz was just ending her call. Kira stood in the doorway, arms folded, tears welling in her eyes. For a moment, she said nothing, just watched her.
“Please, Jazz…” her voice cracked. “Tell me what’s going on. Are you messing with Chill? I need to know the truth.” Jazz shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her eyes.
“It’s not like that, Kira. I promise you. I love you. I would never do anything to deliberately hurt you. But… it’s complicated.” Silence stretched between them.
“It’s complicated?” Kira repeated, her voice rising, disbelief settling in.
“I thought you loved me. I thought we were best friends. I thought we were sisters.” Her throat tightened.
“So why all of a sudden is it complicated?” Jazz didn’t answer.
“The truth is never complicated, confusion is,” Kira continued, her voice steadier now, but sharper. “You don’t think I deserve the truth? Tell me, Jazz… what is going on?” Jazz finally looked at her, guilt flickering across her face. “I’m sorry, Kira,” she said quietly.
“I’m about to pack my things and go.” Kira blinked, stunned.
“So that’s it? You’re just leaving?” Jazz didn’t respond.
She turned and walked out of the kitchen, her footsteps quick, almost desperate, as she headed to the room to pack.
Kira stood there, frozen. Her hands trembled at her sides, her chest tightening as the silence swallowed the space Jazz had just left behind.
A part of her wanted to run after her, to grab her, to demand the truth, maybe even hurt her the way she was hurting.
But she didn’t move. Because none of that would bring resolution.
None of it would bring her peace. Her jaw tightened as tears finally slipped down her face. Why was this happening to her? Why did this always happen to her? It felt like no matter how much she tried to do right; she never got any peace.
Monday morning felt heavier than it should have.
The sky hung low, heavy with thick gray clouds that swallowed the sun whole.
Kira opened the window. The air felt thick and still, like it was holding its breath before something broke.
Even the wind moved slow, carrying a quiet that felt almost unsettling She stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at her.
Getting dressed felt like a chore her body refused to complete.
Her coffee sat untouched on the table, now cold, just like everything inside of her.
She didn’t fix her hair the way she normally would.
Didn’t care to. Her mind was foggy. No clarity.
No direction. You need to move. You need to get to work.
She kept telling herself that over and over again, but her feet would not listen.
It was like her body, and her mind were at war, and neither one of them had the strength to win.
By the time she finally snapped out of it, she was rushing.
Barely pulling herself together, barely making it on time.
And then she saw him. Right there in front of the hospital entrance.
Sincere. Waiting. He needed answers. She hadn’t opened the door.
Hadn’t answered a single call. And for her to shut down like that, to go cold on him, it didn’t make sense.
Not after everything they had shared. Not after the way he believed they loved each other.
He still managed to smile, the corner of his lips lifting as his eyes softened on her.
His gaze lingered, taking her in like he didn’t want to miss a single detail.
Just seeing her beautiful face brought him a quiet kind of joy.
She shifted under his stare, her fingers fidgeting slightly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
A small, nervous smile threatened her lips, but she quickly looked away, dropping her gaze to the floor.
She tried to stay composed, tried not to give in…
but the way her shoulders relaxed and her breath caught gave her away.
It was getting harder to hide it. She let out a quiet sigh the moment her eyes landed on him.
He saw it too. The distance. The shift. It shook him.
“What’s up, Ma?” he said, searching her face. “You gonna tell me what’s going on or not?” She didn’t even slow down. “I have to get to work, Sincere. I really don’t feel like talking.”
“I can see that,” he replied, stepping in closer. “That’s exactly why I’m here. What’s wrong? What’s going on?” She stopped then, finally looking at him, but there was nothing soft in her eyes.
“I’m not worth that.” Her expression tightened.
“It’s not about you being worth anything, Sincere.
It’s not about you.” Her voice sharpened before she could stop it.
“Everything is not about you, okay?” The words came out harsher than she intended.
Instant regret followed. She knew he didn’t deserve that.
None of this was his fault. But she was overwhelmed, suffocating under the weight of everything, and all she wanted was space.
Silence. Time to put herself back together without having to explain her broken pieces to someone else.
And maybe, without even realizing it, she was testing him, pushing just enough to see if he would leave when things got uncomfortable…
to confirm what she had always believed, that she was disposable, just like everyone else had made her feel.
“So, you’re just gonna walk away from me?” Sincere asked, disbelief creeping into his voice. She softened, just a little.
“I’m not walking away from you,” she said, quieter now.
“I have to work. I’m already late. I’ll call you later.
” But even she knew that “later” wasn’t a promise.
It was an escape. Before he could say anything else, she turned and blended into the crowd, disappearing through the hospital doors without looking back.
Leaving Sincere standing there. Alone. Confused.And carrying a kind of hurt he didn’t quite know how to name.
Jazz didn’t need confirmation. Didn’t need words.
The silence had filled in every blank her mind didn’t want to face.
And it made her sick. Guilt sat heavy on her chest, but fear weighed even more.
She hated Chill for putting her in such a fucked-up situation, but she hated herself even more for allowing it, knowing it hurt her best friend.
That part sat with her the most. It wouldn’t leave her alone, no matter how much she tried not to think about it.