Free Pigment by Renee Topper

to fix some chicken for dinner. Do you know I can’t find broccoli anywhere? I went to three stores. Some major recall happened. I got cauliflower.”
    “Are you making your broccoli mash?”
    “Broccoli mash with cauliflower...Cauliflower mash.” They chuckle together at the absurdity of it. “How are your kids?”
    “Bashima is doing better. I gave her a pair of my glasses. They’ll do her more good and my old pair was just sitting in a bag. Oh, they are all wonderful, Mama. They inspire me every day. They are so resilient.
    “Like you?”
    “More than me. I’ve never had to be that strong. Being albino here is harder than there.”
    “How so?” Aliya didn’t mean to worry her. She almost slipped and told her mother the bigger truth about where she is. Now she can hear the concern starting in her voice. “Oh, it’s just...they have so much less.” She deflects, “’Makes me appreciate all you gave me even more.”
    “Well, now you are giving.”
    “Because I can. Because of all you gave me.” Aliya is breaking down. She doesn’t want to melt into tears. If she starts, she won’t be able to stop. “I’ve got to go, Mama.”
    “Honey, are you okay? You can come home any time you want. You know that.”
    “Give Reggie a kiss for me. I love you.”
    “I love you.”
    Aliya hangs up the phone but she can feel that love resonate through space, she can feel it coursing in her veins, in her pulse. She stretches her face with the palms of her hands, swallows her tears, breathes, and takes the new calm.
    #
    Kennen, clean and dressed is tying his shoes when she returns. It’s a small space and they are close. He cleans up very well, even shaved the scraggly beard that was trying to grow in. Now that he’s all fresh-faced and smelling good, Aliya does a double take.
    “There you are. I was beginning to worry.”
    “Beginning?” She calls him out. She’s been feeling him worry about her since the day they met. She takes a moment, lured by the fresh smell of him. She gently touches his cheek and smiles. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”
    He leans in, a little unsure, but hopeful for more closeness, more of her touch. But he’s nervous, “Are you uh… Are you hungry?”
    Aliya nods. She catches herself gazing at him too long. She leans in and kisses him softly on the lips. He can’t move his lips at first but then melts into a long gentle kiss. She pulls away.
    “I’m…I’m going to grab a shower and get ready.”
    “Sure.” His Irish shows in the pink rushing to his face. “Right. Well I’ll be out of your way...” I’m goin’ down the bar for one and give you some privacy. I figure we can grab something to eat. Sound good?”
    “Meet you downstairs.” She closes the door behind him, brings her hand to her head, and pulls her hair for what she’s done.
    She walks over to the bureau where Kennen set some sliced papaya for her and a flower.
    There is a knock on the door. It’s the concierge with a note for her:
    “Meet you in front of your hotel at 10pm tonight.      -Rhadi”
    She hides the note in her makeshift journal under her pillow.
    #
     
    They step outside onto the busy street, full of life, then into a small warmly lit restaurant. As they settle into their mats, the server brings them warm cloths to wash their hands. Kennen opens a cloth. “Let me see your hands.”
    “Why?”
    “Just let me.”
    She holds out her hands. He folds the cloth around them and gently wipes her palms and fingers. Her eyes close, her whole body relaxes in the warmth, into a lingering sensual moment. As the heat escapes, the cloth cools and she opens her eyes to Kennen looking at her lovingly.
    “Kennen, we kissed.” She withdraws her hands to her lap.
    Feeling her try to slip away into her shell, he makes light and flirts, “ You kissed me. Then we kissed.”
    “Yes, I did. I don’t know why I did. I’m telling you this because I don’t want to lead you on or hurt