PROMPT : JUDGMENT
“He doesn’t have a coffee table,” Jenna said, wrinkling her nose. “I am so judging him by that.”
“What does a coffee table have to do with anything?” Kelsey bent to swab at the dust on her winter boots. She probably should have stored them in the box from the previous season. Probably—but she’d worn them as long as she could and now, paid the price for her lack of attention to detail.
“It means he has his stuff together,” Jenna huffed. “Seriously, you’re dating the guy, don’t you know anything?”
“I know I have a date to the Winter Festival and you don’t,” Kelsey snapped. “He’s a decent guy, Jen. What do you want from me?”
“I want both of you to figure out where you’re going with this! You’ve been together for four years and you’re stuck. You don’t ask him for anything and he doesn’t dare ask you.”
“That’s—that’s not what-“ Kelsey spluttered. “Since when have you been-“
“And for your information, I do have a date to the Winter Festival, I just didn’t see the point in telling you.”
“Oho. Like you’re so high and mighty, sister-mine,” Kelsey tossed her hair. “Is my scarf in the coat room?”
“Which one? The burgundy one was on your dresser and I don’t think it goes with your outfit. For your information, it was Damien Kreston and he wasn’t sure if he would make it.” Jenna frowned. “Here, wear mine. You look like a dork.” She unwound her fluffy purple scarf from her neck and draped it over her younger sister’s shoulders.
Kelsey mumbled something into the scarf, straightening obediently when Jenna gave it a yank. She held still as the scarf was expertly wrapped around her neck, then tied off in a flouncy bow. “Thanks sis,” she said, dryly. “I’m well prepared.”
“You should be,” Jenna said, squinting off in the distance. I was just—you’re so oblivious, you know?”
“Excuse me, Princess Obvious?”
“Damien saw him buy a ring, you know. The real kind. The really expensive kind. I wouldn’t pry—I mean, goodness knows you’ve never done that to me, but Damien and I—we’ve actually talked about stuff. You never—I mean, I don’t know if you ever have. Or had. I just want to make sure that you’re—that you don’t get hurt.”
Kelsey was quiet for moment, staring down at her hands, clutching the ends of the borrowed scarf. “You know,” she began, lightly. “Just because you and Damien have it all together doesn’t mean that-“
“We’re leaving tonight,” Jenna said, tightly. “I only meant that—be happy. Be safe. Always, always, be safe.” She pressed her lips together in a trembly line. “Always.”
“Jenna?”
The figure wavered, then exploded in a flash of violent white light.
When Kelsey could see again, the entryway was empty, with no hint that anyone had ever stood there.
Blinking away the spots in her eyes, Kelsey shook her head. Jenna was always flashy that way—except that her shoes were now missing.
All of her shoes.
Her heart caught in her throat and Kelsey put a hand to her mouth as her mind caught up a few seconds too late. That had been goodbye.
Jenna…why?
(c) S. Harricharan