Crossed Over

by Santana Knox

I was opening a tomb, releasing dead parts of me that had been hiding, waiting for their day in the sun again, to give another chance for this shell of my body to live once more.

“It’s not you… I’m just not… gay,” I confessed, and her eyes widened, like it wasn’t the kind of rejection she was expecting. She choked out a laugh. “Oh, sure. Okay.” She shrugged, fighting back a knowing smile and stuffing her hands in her pockets. “I’m not.” I raised my eyebrows. “I’m agreeing with you.” She smirked. “Satirically.” I crossed my arms over my chest, her eyes staying locked on mine.

“Elllerrr,” Mercy slurred, and the rest of the girls giggled. “What?” she asked, seemingly annoyed at the phone call already. “We’re stuck. Please come get us, Daddy.” They all burst out in laughter again, and Harvey’s grunt came through the speaker with silence. “It’s not my fault you’re idiots. Call someone else.” She groaned in frustration, but just as it seemed she was about to hang up, Trixie cut in from beside her. “Nia’s with us.” There was a long pause on the other end, and then a small exhale. “I’ll call you when I’m above the ledge.”

When you’re a woman, your anger is either childish or irrational. It’s never justified. So I didn’t care to try to explain myself anymore.

“Please tell me I can kiss you.” Her eyes were glued to my lips, and my stomach fluttered something awful. “I think I’ll die if you don’t.”