Aliyah, Aliyah, wake up! Aliyah, Aliyah! The voice became louder and Aliyah sprang into an upright position, her left hand clutching her right breast. She looked at the bed beside her before she stared into the face of her sister, Shawna who was shaking her vigorously. “What are you looking at, silly? It’s time to get up; you are going to be late for your meeting.” Her family knew she was assigned to a very high profile legal case which was very important to her. “Oh boy, I am so tired,” said Aliyah. “Well, if you were up until 3 o’clock Skyping with Brandon what do you expect?” Shawna retorted. Aliyah got up and disappeared into the bathroom without another word. She could not allow her prissy, highfalutin sister to find out about her secret rendezvous and her dreams. And it hadn’t been Brandon on Skype!
Her heart beating faster than normal, she sat on the toilet and tried to return to the exact place she was in her dream when she was awakened by her sister. She was having these dreams more frequently and they were always disturbed by something. Oh how she wished her dreams were reality, she wished that life were different as she glanced at her right breast where her fingers had been squeezing her nipples while she dreamt that Kevin’s warm lips were on it. She yearned for that day when they could reveal their secret, the day when they didn’t have to hide and pretend. If only her family members could read her mind!
Born into a privileged family, Aliyah and her sister, Shawna were sheltered and pampered. Shawna was older by five years and she always tried to play big sister with Aliyah. Their father, Kenneth Mandool had a successful medical practice in the neighbouring town, on the ground floor of First Avenue Plaza, while their mother Christina ran a clothing boutique in Central Plaza. Shawna has worked with their dad ever since she left medical school. Aliyah had studied at the Norman Manley Law School and had a job at one of the largest legal firms in the island.
