Your sister, Nicole

As you wander over to the refreshments table, you see your sister, Nicole standing in the shade of the awning. Even in this summer heat, she is wearing all black, accented by white. Black combat boots, ripped fishnets and a frilly black skirt holds her down while a faux-leather corset pushes her ample cleavage up. She really did inherit your mother’s body. Nicole holds a glass of what you correctly guess to be vodka and tonic, based on the smell of her breath. Her black lipstick leaves marks on the glass as she sips. You grab her glass and take a couple gulps before handing it back.

“Hey!” Nicole protests before he starts to giggle. “You know, black lipstick might look good on you…” You realize that some of the lipstick must have transferred to your lips from the glass and you wipe at your lips.

“Wouldn’t you love to see that?” You respond sneeringly, but Nicole just looks you up and down, a weird look passing across her face before she regains her composure.

“I don’t get what you see in her…” Nicole motions her glass towards Jessica who is laughing a little too obnoxiously loud with one of your aunts. “She’s such a ditz, you really think she’s going to make a good mother when the time comes?”

“Well at least she knows how to have fun. Unlike you, who is brooding in the shade like some vampire attending a funeral.” You retort. But you can’t help but think that Nicole is partly right. Jessica has been a good girlfriend, fun and loyal. But she is an airhead and you won’t trust her to take care of a garden plant, let alone a child. “What does it matter anyway? I’m going to get cut and who knows if we’ll still be together when I’m finally ready to start a family.”

Some kids, children of family friends run by, grabbing at Jessica’s hands and she starts to chase and run with them. “Ha!” Nicole snorts “That one is probably feeling her ovaries bursting right now. Mark my words, she’ll turn and want you to get the reversal surgery before you're ready. Probably best if she just tells you now so you don’t have to do the surgery in the first place.”

You grab the drink from Nicole’s hand again, downing it. This time being mindful enough to miss the lipstick smudges. “I am going through with the procedure. Mom wants it, society wants it. It’s the best thing I can do.” You place the empty cup down on the table and walk away.