Ace of Spades

by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

“I know it’s been hard for you at school,” Belle starts, “but I want you to know … you can trust me.” I look at her, and I feel like I can tell her anything. I’m so exhausted, these secrets weighing on my conscience. I can trust her. I squeeze my eyes shut. “Aces was right about me. I’m a bad person, and before you say I’m not, I am. I’ve done a lot of bad things, and it’s all coming out now and I can’t stop it.” Belle is silent for a few moments. I don’t look at her at first, too scared that she’ll look at me like I’m some monster. But when I open my eyes, she’s weirdly calm. “I’m scared,” I say quietly, sniffing. “Of what’s happening to me and what’s going to happen.” “You’re going to be fine,” Belle says, taking my hands again. “We all have skeletons.” I feel hot, hoping my sweaty palms don’t gross her out. Belle looks at me like I’m not the person I think I am. I wonder how many skeletons she has? Every face in here flickers, morphing into the girl’s. Is it a trick of the light? Or is it my brain playing games once again? I feel like I’m surrounded. I look at Belle and see her hair matted with blood as her face shifts. I feel like I’m losing it. The walls of what was left of my sanity are cracking and breaking away. “Chi…,” she says softly. “No matter what, you’ll always have me, okay?” There’s a snap in my head, like someone clicking their fingers, and all the faces return to normal, including hers. It’s not much, but being here with Belle makes me feel better. And he...