Discovery
Part 3: THE GOOD-BYE
It was the truth, both of them knew it. Zack wasn’t Bullshiting this time or over reacting. Two X5s in Seattle was just enough of a scent for the dogs to sniff out. They hadn’t said anything to each other after Zack left.
Tonight, Max needed her temple. As she sat on top of the space needle, the night was as quiet as it ever been, still, the world resting as she contemplated her future, one who’s direction she was no longer sure of.
“Do you mind some company?” Jondy asked.
“Not at all,” Max said. Jondy sat down beside her.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” Jondy told her.
“Canada?” Max asked.
“Maybe, maybe not. It’s a good place to lay low, there’s also Mexico.”
“Jace is in Mexico,” Max said softly.
“Jace?” Jondy asked. “But she–”
“She’s out,” Max said. “I’ll tell you the story another time.”
“We may not get another time.”
“We will,” Max replied. “I’m leaving too.”
“What, you can’t, your whole life is here,” Jondy told her.
“I’m not leaving for good. Seattle’s become home, but it’s also become a hotbed that needs to cool off.” Max grabbed her sisters hand. “I sorry Jondy. All I ever wanted in life was you and Zack and the others at any cost, but the second you weren‘t what I wanted you to be.”
“It’s okay,” Jondy said.
“No it’s not,” Max replied. “Probably the only friend I’ve ever had as good as you, was Original Cindy. I should be glad that you found something in each other. I should love you for you, not what I want you to be and now, I do.”
“I love you too Max.”
Max and Jondy reached out and hugged each other. Both of them tried to imagine what Lydecker would think of “his kids” sharing such a “sentimental” and “emotional” moment. His ultimate soldiers, hugging each other and saying ‘I love you‘.
“Don’t leave Seattle,” Jondy said. “Somebody’s got to watch my girl.”
“I’m leaving Jondy,” Max told her. “They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe Logan will be ready for me when I come back. But I’m not ready to give you up yet. It‘s been to long. Seems like every time I find one of my siblings, I‘m saying good-bye before I get a chance to say hello. And I‘m just getting to know the real you.”
“But it‘s my fault you have to leave,” Jondy said. “If I had never come to Seattle
“No it‘s not. We both decided to stay together, we both helped out Logan, we both did this,” Max told her.
Jondy reluctantly let it go. There was no point in arguing now, Max had made up her mind.
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What would she say to Cindy? Jondy wondered as she slipped into her room. It was like she had been walking around asleep all this time and Cindy had awaken her, she was like the messiah, the wise man on the mountain that brought her to understanding. She laid on the bed beside her sleeping lover and watched the other woman’s chest move up and down with her breathing as she slept. She was afraid of touching her, afraid of waking her, afraid of leaving her and meeting confusion again.
She didn’t expect loyalty from Cindy or even love, she hadn’t known her that long. But she did love her, loved her as much as she would if she had known her forever — or at least as long as Max. Original Cindy helped her understand herself, let her feel what was true inside her. How could she let her know how much she cared about her, how much she appreciated this, without going to far and saying I love you? Jondy allowed her finger to trail lightly across the other woman’s body, trying to draw some picture in her mind with her finger. Original Cindy stirred in her sleep and looked up at the woman beside her.
“Hey Suga,” Original Cindy smiled, still caught somewhere between sleep and awake.
“Hey,” Jondy replied. Jondy kissed Cindy softly upon her lips. “I’m laying here trying to figure out how to say thank you.”
“Suga, you ain‘t got a thing to–” Cindy began.
Jondy put a finger to her lips. “But I do. I came here just wanting to find my sister, but instead, with you, I found myself. And I, I lo—-I like you, a whole lot.”
“Me too,” Cindy said.
“I gotta leave Seattle, Zack is right. I’m sorry.”
Jondy started to say more and Cindy shut her up with a kiss. And they made love passionately, one last time.
{end part 3}
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Epilogue by Max
I once said I wanted to forget my barcode exist, but perhaps that isn’t true. As much as that barcode is a symbol of my curse, it’s what makes me one of them, it’s what makes me a part of Zack, Jondy, Tinga and the rest of my siblings. And well, I wouldn’t give that up for the world. It was hard saying good-bye to Original Cindy and even harder saying good-bye to Logan, who simply asked “please stay”. All I could do was promise I’d be back.
After leaving Logan’s we met up with Zack and dropped Cindy at Jam Pony. I watched my sister share a parting kiss with Original Cindy and at that moment, I saw, they were beautiful together. It was odd, I had once said if I were into girls, I could be with Original Cindy and cut these crazy guys out of my life. And then my sister had come to town and become Cindy’s girl. A sister I considered more like myself than anyone else in the world.
And I should mention, I had one up on Zack, because he didn’t know Jondy was a lesbian either. However, It mattered for all of five seconds, Zack was to busy gloating saying , “I’m glad you finally made the smart choice.“ I rolled my eyes at him, but I wasn’t really angry. He was just being Zack and it would be interesting to be his annoying little sister for a day. Maybe after a day of that, he’d be able to let go of the other thing and if he didn’t, oh well, Zack’s feelings were his own.
Jondy, Zack and I blazed out of Seattle, looking like some type of small biker gang. And I was actually happy to be with them, even if we would split up soon. Seattle, Eyes Only, Jam Pony, Logan, Original Cindy and my other friends had all been there before me and would go on without me, but I would come back to them anyway — because I loved them as much as I did the family I was with.
But until then, I was riding with my sister, my best friend, my homie, my ace. And everything was right with the world.
Did I ever return to Seattle? Well that’s another story.
END
DZ -2001
