A/N This chapter is a little heavy, but it’s necessary for the story. I promise this is just a little speed bump. This part could also be a bit triggering so read at your own risk !
Bonded: In which two sisters who had the sports world at their fingertips must adjust after injuries no one expected. One sister is hell bent on making sure that the other doesn’t go down the dark path she did, while the other wants reassurance that’ll she’ll be the same player when she returns to the court.
Bonded: A JuJu Watkins Mini Series
Toriah and Judea never fought. Their parents considered themselves lucky in that way. Even as Toriah grew older and her popularity grew, she always made it a point to let everyone know that she and her sister were a package deal. Yes, the two had their own identity and hobbies but they genuinely enjoyed being around one another. Which is way Judea was so puzzled now. It had been a few days since Toriah had taken her to her rehab session and she hadn’t heard from her after their ice cream and move night. Her feelings were hurt but she decided to let it go.
“All set?”
She looked up at her door and saw her mother standing there. She sadly nodded her head and sighed.
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Still haven’t heard from Ri?”
“Nope. I’m trying to give her some space but I miss her.”
Sari smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Just give her some time baby.”
“I don’t want her to shut me out again. I just really need my sister.”
“I know. Let’s get you to rehab and then maybe we can give her a call.”
“OK.”
Her rehab session was agonizing. She’d gotten used to Toriah being in the building with her and making silly faces or giving her encouragement when she was clearly getting frustrated. Sari had opted to reach out to Toriah and see why she hadn’t been around. It was starting to get frustrating, how easily it was for her to disappear without any notice. She wanted her to explain what was going on because to her no excuse was good enough for disappointing her sister or parents for that matter. She stepped off of the elevator and used JuJu’s key to get inside of her daughter’s apartment. The apartment was clean, too clean almost like she hadn’t been home in days. Fear immediately washed over Sari as she pulled out her phone to call her daughter. Straight to voicemail.
“Toriah Sari Watkins where are you? I don’t know what’s going on but I need you to call me back.” Her voice cracked as she thought back to a time she didn’t want to go back to. Her first born calling her in a panic after two months of not speaking because she couldn’t breathe properly and she felt like she was losing control of her body. She rushed to her daughter’s off campus apartment. A trip to the hospital had saved her life. Doctors had called her lucky because a few minutes later and she would’ve had a fatal overdose. Sari refused to take any chances especially after Toriah admitted to mixing up her medications and their schedules, so she moved her back into their family home. Much to the delight of her father and younger sister. Neither knew the reason behind the sudden chance of heart, but both were happy to have their girl back. Toriah was happy that she didn’t have to pretend that she didn’t need anyone. She was even happier when her family had welcomed her back like she hadn’t shut them out for months.
“We love you. Nothing or no one will change that.”
Sari could see the change. She’d started to take rehab seriously and had come to terms with life without volleyball. She still had moments of doubt and what ifs, but she would bounce back quicker than the thoughts could linger. But this, this felt different. Looking at the time, she saw it was almost time to pick JuJu up from rehab. “Please be OK,” she whispers as she leaves the apartment.
……………
Meanwhile Toriah was dancing on a table to a song that brought back simpler times. Before her injury, before she didn’t have to question who or what she was anymore. Three days, she hadn’t been home in three days and she had mixed feelings about it. She was upset with herself because she knew was letting her sister down. Sighing, she hopped off of the table and pulled her phone from her pocket and decided to turn it back on. She noticed a missed call and voicemail from her mother and decided to listen to it. In her drunken state of mind she laughed.
“I don’t know what I was expecting. I’m gone for I don’t know how many days and all you have is my full government and call you?”
She turned her phone back off and decided to order another round of shots for herself.
“Cheers to being the family fuckup,” she said bitterly before knocking her shots back.
……………….
A week. A whole week of no communication with her sister and she was fed the fuck up to say the least. She’d even unshared her location and to JuJu that was worse than no contact. Her parents had basically moved in to help Ju with everything. She was currently putting on her shoes before standing up to get her crutches. She still wasn’t able to put all of her weight on her leg, but that wasn’t stopping her. She pushed open her apartment door and walked to the elevator.
“Where are you going?”
She turned around to see her dad standing in the doorway.
“To see if Toriah is home.”
“We’ll come with you.”
“No dad. I’ll be ok.”
He nods his head before opening his mouth. “Five minutes and we’re coming up.”
“OK.”
Toriah was asleep in bed. The covers over her head. JuJu walked into her room and noticed the empty liquor bottles on the bedside table.
“Wake up.”
She didn’t get a response, so she decided to get louder.
“Wake up,” she yelled.
Toriah shoots up and then groans as she grabs her head. She looked around trying to remember where she is before her eyes land on a teary eyed JuJu.
“Is this what you’ve been doing ? Instead of helping me like you promised you would, you’ve been getting drunk?”
That’s the final straw. JuJu sees the switch flip in her sister’s eyes. She looks at her like she’s a stranger instead of someone she’s spent her entire life loving and protecting.
“Everything isn’t about you Judea. I know it’s hard to believe but the world doesn’t rise and set your ass.”
JuJu recoils at that. “I didn’t say that it did. But you’ve been ghosting me for a week! What is happening with you.”
Toriah rolls her eyes and attempts to stand but wobbles for a few seconds before she can successfully stand.
“Get the fuck out.”
“No. I’m not leaving! We’re going to talk.”
“TALK,” Toriah yells. Her emotions finally bubbling to the surface. “You don’t want to talk. You want me to help your crippled ass and be the carrier of your problems because God forbid you have to do anything else besides dribble a ball.”
Toriah sees it, the hurt that flashes across her sister’s face. But she can’t stop herself, in her defense she’d told her to leave. Instead JuJu had wanted to talk so they were going to talk.
“Stop it.”
“Stop it,” Toriah mocks her. “Aww what’s the matter? The people’s princess is having a hard time not being the center of attention?”
“Alright now that’s enough.”
Toriah laughs as she sees Bobby and Sari entering the bedroom. The take one look at the scene and focus in on JuJu. That infuriates Toriah even more.
“Typical,” she says as she shakes her head.
“Excuse me?”
“I said typical. You have two daughters who have needs, but yeah let’s focus on one and ignore the other.”
“That’s not what-“
“Yes it is! You’ve always made sure that she was good. Like I was just some robot who didn’t have feelings. And don’t touch me,” Toriah says as Sari reaches out to grab her hands.
“We don’t do this,” JuJu says.
“Do what,” Toriah says as her anger starts to rise again. “I told you to leave anyway so please hobble your ass out of my apartment. All three of you can go actually.”
“We aren’t going anywhere until you apologize to your sister,” Bobby said.
“Fuck her. It’s always about her and I’m tired of being the one who has to fix her problems.”
“No one asked you to fix her. You better watch that tone.”
“Whatever,” she mumbled.
Sari grabbed her face and when Toriah tried to pull away, her grip tightened. Her eyes watered and then she broke open. JuJu wipes her tear stained face. She’d turned to leave and Toriah opened her mouth to speak. Attempting to be vulnerable with her family.
“It’s suffocating.”
That causes JuJu to stop, but she doesn’t turn around. So Toriah keeps talking.
“Being your sister is suffocating and not because I hate it or you. You’re perfect Judea. Always have been, but after I got hurt, it seemed like people didn’t love me for me anymore. People who I thought I would have in my life forever simply stopped talking to me.“
“So that’s my fault,” she asks as looks over her shoulder. “I’m your sister and I tried to be there for you and you’re still punishing me for what others did to you? You’re pushing me away now because I got hurt?”
“No.”
“Yes you are,” she shrieks. “Listen I’m sorry that I’ve been a burden to you. Mom and dad can help me with my rehab. Wouldn’t want my crippled ass getting in the way of your little pity party. Thanks for being there for me when I needed you the most. Glad to know that I can count on you to actually show up for me.”
And that dig hurts worse than if she’d put her hands on her. Her parents spare a sad glance at her and then both help JuJu out of the apartment. Toriah wraps her hands around herself and cries. She didn’t mean anything that she’d said, but one thing about words ? They hurt and once they were said, you couldn’t take them back. She’d fucked up and she knew this wouldn’t be easy to fix. Toriah and Judea never fought, but there was always a first time for everything.
