A Time to Speak
Page 26
Dominique turned, looking at Amelia from the corner of her eyes. “And what’s that?” she asked, her voice breathy and quiet.
Amelia closed her eyes, remembering every time they’d had this conversation in reverse, with Dominique encouraging her and giving her strength. This was her turn, despite the loss that she too had suffered. She swallowed and gripped the steering wheel with her free hand. “Today, we mourn,” she said, reaching up to tilt Dominique’s face toward hers. “We grab some wine and head back to the house. We pour a glass or five and cry. We feel the weight of the sorrow for what has happened to one of our own and for the injustices of this small town. We mourn for ourselves, for Chloe, for Knell, for the precedence this sets for increased hatred.”
“And after that?” Dominique looked to the floorboard and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m not supposed to be so weak. I’m just stunned.”
“You’re not being weak,” Amelia said, kissing her on top of the head. “You’re being human, and we all deserve the chance to feel this—you especially, given your months of hard work and dedication.” She weaved her fingers around Dominique’s. “After today…” She paused and shook her head. “After we’ve mourned,” she corrected. “You can’t put a timeline on mourning. After we’ve mourned, we stand back up, and we fight. We use our voices and we work to make this place—and all places—better. And we don’t stop fighting. That’s really all I know. This is devastating, but it cannot stop us from working toward what’s right.”
“You’re right.” A single tear slid down Dominique’s face and she exhaled, closing her eyes.
“The best thing I can add is that we’ll do it all together.” She used the words Dominique had spoken to her time and again in moments of reassurance. They would do this together.
Despite her tears, the corners of Dominique’s mouth lifted into a smile. “Yes we will,” she said, quietly but with confidence.
“Regardless of what has happened, I have found you, and I love you,” Amelia said, running her hands up and down Dominique’s arms tenderly. “I will be forever grateful that I met you, despite the hopelessness I feel now and the confusion of what’s to come. I am grateful to know we are in this together, and this love is something that cannot be squelched by small minds.”
Amelia opened her arms, and Dominique took the cue, settling into the warm embrace. She lifted her head and mouthed, “Thank you.” Amelia leaned down and sealed her lips with a kiss. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw people stopping in the parking lot, looking into her car, but she didn’t care.
Closing her eyes, she deepened the kiss, determined to live, fight, and love out loud.
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