The Stains of Black (ABANDONED🚨🚨)

Brightney’s eye narrowed, listening to Vee ramble.

”And Tisha’s…still stubborn about it, right?” Her lampshade tilts a little, her gloved hand pinching the bottom of her head.

”Less so, but…” Vee glances to the side. “Pretty much.”

“Huh.” Brightney thinks for a second. “How much can I really do if Tisha won’t hear anyone out?”

”Well, she has more respect for you than she does for me!” Vee points at Brightney. “And I don’t think Shelly would be the best person to talk Tisha into accepting it.” 

Brightney chuckles a little. “I’ll see what I can do, Vee.” She says, placing a hand in front of her smile.

Vee grins. “Awesome.” She pats Brightney’s shoulder before turning on her heels and heading towards the door. “You’re my favorite!”

Brightney ventured the lobby looking for Tisha. She had noticed that Tisha would keep to herself more often, but didn’t notice that it had gotten to a point where she couldn’t find Tisha in the lobby, or anywhere for that matter, for multiple days.

Connie shrugs. “Man, I’ve been looking for her too.” She rubs her eyes. “You need her for something?” 

“Personal matters.” Brightney smiles.

”…Uh-huh.” Connie pauses. “Well, I’ll…keep an extra eye out for her?”

Brightney nods, still with a cheery but calm smile. “I’d appreciate it.”

Connie slowly closes the door to her room shut, meaning Brightney really didn’t have any time to question the array of broken glass on her floors.

Brightney asked around. Shelly, Sprout, Cosmo, Vee, Connie, Gigi…None of them had seen Tisha for days. 

Brightney had avoided Tisha’s room. Brightney knew better than anyone that if Tisha was ever in there, she was asleep. Otherwise, she was out and about.

Brightney hesitantly walks towards Tisha’s door, knocking on it a few times.

Tisha’s gaze jolts towards the doorway when there’s a pattern of knocking, and for the first time in days its a new voice that isn’t Vee or Shelly.

”Tisha?” Brightney’s voice is quiet. 

Tisha trusted Brightney, no doubt about it. But she knew that she was likely only there to discuss the thing she tries so hard to avoid: a problem.

Tisha debated internally whether she should respond or not; stay silent, make Brightney think she’s elsewhere and stay alone…Or open the door, see Brightney, and most likely talk about Tisha’s sudden disappearance.

The door cracks open, and Brightney comes in.

Tisha despised the pitiful look Brightney had.

The two sat next to each other Tisha’s bed, with the tissue box’s eyes glued to the floor. 

“You’re not willing to hear Vee out, and you’re not willing to hear Shelly out.” Brightney starts, sighing. “Are you willing to hear me out?”

Tisha nods, glancing at Brightney’s face for a second.

”Tell me what’s going on.”

Tisha starts off slowly, listing minor issues. The more she goes on, the more noteworthy the things she lists get. Night problems, hypervigilance, introversion, the list just might extend longer than Brightney’s to-do list.

Brightney nods when Tisha goes silent.

She quietly wraps her arms loosely around Tisha, sympathetic. 

“I’m sorry.”