BooksBarbecue
Back Kingdom
Chapters (58)
  1. Full Page Image
  2. Contents
  3. Copyright
  4. Important Note:
  5. ~ Ground Zero ~
  6. Chapter One
  7. Chapter Two
  8. Chapter Three
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. ~ Absolutely ~
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. ~ Someone To Feed It ~
  17. Chapter Ten
  18. Chapter Eleven
  19. Chapter Twelve
  20. Chapter Thirteen
  21. Chapter Fourteen
  22. Chapter Fifteen
  23. ~ I’ve Got You Now ~
  24. Chapter Sixteen
  25. Chapter Seventeen
  26. Chapter Eighteen
  27. Chapter Nineteen
  28. Chapter Twenty
  29. Chapter Twenty-One
  30. Chapter Twenty-Two
  31. ~ Him ~
  32. Chapter Twenty-Three
  33. Chapter Twenty-Four
  34. Chapter Twenty-Five
  35. Chapter Twenty-Six
  36. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  37. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  38. ~ As I Fall ~
  39. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  40. Chapter Thirty
  41. Chapter Thirty-One
  42. Chapter Thirty-Two
  43. Chapter Thirty-Three
  44. Chapter Thirty-Four
  45. Chapter Thirty-Five
  46. Chapter Thirty-Six
  47. ~ The Luckiest Girl In The World ~
  48. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  49. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  50. Two Months Later
  51. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  52. Chapter Forty
  53. Chapter Forty-One
  54. Chapter Forty-Two
  55. Six Months Later
  56. Chapter Forty-Three
  57. Acknowledgments
  58. Also by WS Greer

We sit in silence for a moment, both of us wrapped up in our thoughts. Deep down, we both know the other is right. We have nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just that society has us brainwashed from birth. We believe the opinions of unimportant people—people whose existence has no effect on us whatsoever—actually give us validation. We concern ourselves with the bullshit of perfect strangers, and suppress our ability to be happy in our own skin. It’s so fucking stupid I could scream, but instead of screaming, we should do better. We’re the only ones who know our true desire. We’re the only ones who know who we really are inside. Therefore, our opinions are the only ones that should matter. As long as who I am and what I’m doing isn’t physically hurting anyone else, I have no reason to hide or hate myself. Fuck society.

Two minutes pass without anything being said, and I start to feel like I’ve crossed a line with Nas. His name is a sensitive subject, and maybe I pushed him too far. So, gathering all the strength I can muster, I push myself off his stomach and sit up with my back against the headboard.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to push you,” I say, turning my head to face Nas, who looks lost in thought. “I’m sorry if I offended you, and I understand if you want to go up and write. I’m sure you don’t usually sleep in your basement anyway.”

“No, it’s okay,” Nas replies. He furrows his brow as he continues to think. “You’re right, Alina. Maybe I care too much about the wrong thing. I guess I never thought of it that way before.”

“Oh, well good. I hope I can give you confidence the same way you give it to me.”

Nas looks at me, and I see the frustration leak out of his face, replaced by pride and something else I can’t identify. Is it gratitude? He looks me up and down like he’s seeing me for the very first time, acknowledging my existence in a different way than before.

“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” he asks rhetorically.

I giggle. “Why do you say that?”

“No reason. Come on, lay back down.” Nas holds out his arm, inviting me to lay on him again.

“I thought you needed to go write,” I say.

“That’s okay. It can wait,” Nas replies. He reaches out and pulls me closer, and I lay my head on his chest. His heart thuds in my ear and I smile, finding safety and happiness in his arms.

Chapter Twenty-Six