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Margareth cracked her knuckles and put her headphones on, plugging them onto her digital piano and tested the sound and pedal. Soon as that was done, she started doing her daily exercises, given by her teacher. Fingertips glided left and right across the keyboard with ease as she let out a yawn, the dopamine from exercising always made her sleepy afterwards. Especially after a long hot shower, where she’d get to put on comfy clothes and a stolen hoodie that smelled like her girlfriend...
Not even five minutes in, she heard a knock on her door. “Yes?” She turned around and took her headphones off, and was greeted by a black haired girl shyly peeking from her door. Alexandra, with a troubled expression on her face.
“Hm. Maggie?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Can I come in?”
Marge furrowed her brows. “Yeah, Is everything ok?”
Instead of responding, Alex looked away, getting inside and gently closing the door behind her. “Can we talk?” Her voice was so quiet Marge had to make an effort to decipher what she had said.
“Yes, of course.” She put her headphones aside and spun her chair around, turning to sit in her direction. “Are you ok?” She asked, worry growing in her stomach.
When her little sister shook her head in a no, Marge got up and sat on her bed, tapping her side. “C’mere then. What’s wrong?” She asked, a little more serious, concerned, a dozen thoughts crossing her mind. Immediately she thought about the talk they had about liking girls, how puzzled Alex felt about the whole thing. As soon as her little sister sat next to her, a sob ran up her throat, to which Marge promptly wrapped an arm around her shoulder before the next one came, and Alex began to cry.
Marge patted her back and ran her fingers on her hair until her sobs got quieter and quieter with the minutes passing, and the girl sighed. As she comforted her, she thought to herself how Cath used to do the exact same thing to her when she was littler. The memory brought a faint smile to her lips.
When Alex emerged from her sister's arms, looking down, the older one asked, gently, brushing her hair back in a low pony, away from her face. “Let’s talk about it?”
Alexandra nodded, looking tired and defeated. “I got my period.” She sniffed, using her sleeve to dry out her eyes. “I feel stupid for crying about this.”
“No, it’s not stupid.” Marge hugged her own legs and rested her cheek on her knee. “A lot of girls cry when they get their first period, you’d be surprised.” She said with a gentle, pitiful smile, silently relieved it wasn’t anything serious. Alex let out a long sigh.
“Did you cry?” She asked, eyeing up at her with a bitter tone.
“I- no.” She gave her a square smile. “But I know some friends who did.”
“Ugh.” Alex leaned on her sister’s shoulder, and Marge circled an arm around her again. “I feel like crap .” She said, more to herself.
“You’re lucky you were home.” Marge adjusted herself on the bed, leaning on the bed frame.
“Yeah.” Alexandra sniffed, and both went quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds to be heard were Alex’s snuffles. Margareth was almost dozing off when her sister broke the silence. “What was your first period like?” Alex looked up at her, blue eyes red and swollen.
“Hm.” Marge threw her head back on the pillow, thinking. “I was at school. Junior year I think?” She furrowed her brows, pouting. “Yeah. I was in the bathroom and I got so spooked I might have made a weird noise because Anne asked me if I was ok.” Marge chuckled. “And when I told her I was bleeding she asked me ‘ bleeding where? ’ very confused and concerned, and telling her ‘ I don’t know’ didn’t help the situation.”
“Maggie!” Alex interrupted her, with an amused incredulous expression that made her big sister laugh.
“I was scared! And confused.” Margareth defended herself. “Eventually I explained what was going on and she lent me a pad.” She clicked her tongue, a little habit she got from spending too much time with Isa. “And then I got home and told mom about it and she gave me an entire speech of how ‘ I’m a woman now ’ and this was ‘ God’s punishment for being a woman ’ and a bunch of other nonsense .” She shook her head and rolled her eyes, puffing.
“Oh no…” Alex’s lips twitched. “I’m gonna have to go through all of that won’t I.” Her tone sounded more like a statement than a question.
Marge gave her a compassionate smile and rubbed her hand on her arm. “Yeah. I don’t think I can help you with that part. Sorry.” She squinted her eyes with a painful expression, and Alex grunted, melting on the pillow behind her. “But don’t even listen to her. Nothing about your life will change.” She leaned her head in her sister's direction, who cuddled up next to her. “Getting your period doesn’t automatically mean you’re a grown up, you’re still a kid.” She felt her sister nod next to her. Marge thought for a minute. “Do you have anything you wanna ask me?” She turned her head to her direction.
“Hmm.” The girl picked at her chipped navy blue nails. “I… don’t think so. Like, school taught me about stuff. But they weren’t really nice about it.”
“Ah yeah. Fucking catholic school.”
“Language!” Alex brightened up and looked up at her, wide eyed.
“Sorry!” Marge chuckled, grinning. “ Bloody catholic school!” She corrected, making her sister laugh next to her, a sound that filled the room with happiness, so contagious that she couldn’t help but laugh herself.
After regaining their breaths, Marge added. “But yeah. Whatever they told you about shame, and whatever mom tells you as well, is all bull- nonsense.” She corrected. “No need to be ashamed of anything. You know that.” She continued, a little more serious.
“I do. It’s just hard to remember that sometimes.” Alex looked away, and Margareth got the feeling they weren’t talking about periods anymore.
“I’m here for you when it gets hard to remember.” She smiled. “Your gay bigger sister.” Alex chuckled, making her grin.
“Thanks.” She scooped closer, and comfortable silence filled the afternoon sun-lit bedroom. And just as Margareth felt herself dozing off again, Alex called. “Hey.”
“Hm?” She shook her head and opened her eyes, pretending to be awake.
“Do you wanna bake something? I feel like eating those muffins Anne taught me to do.”
Marge hummed, smiling. “The carrot cake ones?”
“Exactly those.”
Marge stretched and popped her joints with a squeak before jumping from the bed in a single movement. “Let’s do it.” She gave her sister a cheeky smile. “Before I fall asleep!”
Alex let out a chuckle. “You’re the best.”
“Honored to hear that!” She placed a hand on her heart and snatched her phone from the nightstand. After both headed to the kitchen, the rest of the evening was filled with the wonderful smell of freshly baked goodies, and Alex got to forget what she was even upset about.