Ajaih
Therapy was becoming a place where I was learning to breathe again. Not comfort exactly, but just enough air to inhale, to speak, to let some of the weight fall off my shoulders and melt into the couch beneath me.
We were back from Bora Bora, but a part of me still carried the warmth of the island in my chest. I needed it today.
Sitting in this familiar circle of family with my mother, Lena, DJ, and David Sr, I could feel something brewing.
Not tension, not anymore at least. This was something closer to anticipation, or maybe healing on the verge of blooming.
Dr. Temple had just given us a minor assignment, one where each of us shared one thing we’d noticed changing over the past few weeks.
DJ went first, sharing how surreal and beautiful it felt to have a big sister now, especially one who cursed too much but could also beat him in drone simulations.
Lena spoke of how her health was improving since the transplant and how she looked forward to lifelong moments with her siblings.
Kimberly, my mother, spoke softly about making space for guilt without letting it dictate her motherhood.
And then it was my turn.
I looked at each of them, then landed on her—Kimberly, inhaling deeply with the words warm on my tongue, “Can I call you… Mom?”
The room shifted, as if the air itself had softened.
Her hand flew to her mouth, and tears pooled instantly in her eyes. “Ajaih,” she whispered.
“I didn’t think I ever would, but I don’t know.
I feel like you’re doing the work to be a part of my life on my terms within my comfort zone, and I see you.
You’re here. I feel your presence even when it’s uncomfortable.
This is not me saying everything’s perfect, but it’s me saying I love you and I want you to know that I want you here as much as you want to be here. ”
Her tears broke free, and she leaned over, taking my hand in hers. “I never thought I’d deserve that from you,” she said, voice cracking. “But hearing it? It’s the biggest gift you could’ve given me.”
DJ sniffled and pretended to fix his shoe, and Lena just reached for the tissue box and passed it around like we were on rotation. David Sr wiped his own eyes behind his glasses and smiled with that warmth I used to think I’d never get from a man I wasn’t raised by.
Then came a knock on the door. It creaked open, and two familiar faces peeked in.
Knox looked confidence in motion in a rust-toned button-down and black slacks, Maverick, soft-eyed and broad-shouldered in a sage green Henley. They both gave a quick nod to the room, warm and respectful.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Maverick said gently, “We were invited… just wanted to be sure it was okay.”
Dr. Temple welcomed them in, and suddenly, I knew it was time.
Taking a slow but deep breath, “So, uhhh there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you all,” I began, my fingers nervously threading together in my lap.
Knox sat beside me, quietly lacing his fingers through mine, Maverick taking the seat on my other side, hand on my back, steadying me, giving me the reassurance and confidence to break free.
“I’m in a relationship,” I said, watching the words fall into the room, “With both of them.”
Silence.
I pressed on, “It’s polyamorous, and Knox and Maverick are also lovers. I love them, I’m in love with them, and I love them with every part of me. I was terrified to tell you because, well, I wasn’t sure if we were the kind of family that talks about this stuff without raising voices or eyebrows.”
The pause was a vacuum. I braced myself.
And then David Sr, the pastor, the man of the cloth who stood in front of a congregation and preached the word of God, leaned forward, eyes kind and clear, “Ajaih,” he said, voice warm, “if you’re loved, respected, and honored in your relationship, what’s there for me to judge?”
I blinked.
He continued, “You’ve walked through fire to get where you are. The way these men are looking at you right now? That’s favor. So, if they honor you like that? I can’t do anything but honor them, too.”
My mouth dropped open a little. Maverick smiled, clearly relieved, while Knox gave a slow nod of gratitude.
Kimberly, I mean my…Mom chimed in next, her tone tentative but curious, “Is it hard? Balancing love like that?”
I chuckled through the lump in my throat, “It’s work, but the joy, the comfort, the chaos, it’s everything, in addition to the space they’ve created for me to exist fully.”
She gave a slight nod and said, “Well, from what I can tell, you’ve always marched to the beat of your own drum, and now it makes sense.”
We all laughed because nothing about me was traditional; I lived in the lines of unconventionality. DJ rolled his eyes dramatically, “I just hope I never walk in on y’all being everything.”
“Oh, you will,” Knox said, grinning wickedly, “We’re menaces.”
Everyone burst into laughter, and Lena muttered something about not needing visuals of her sister’s love life.
Kimberly looked at me once more and reached for my hand. “Thank you for trusting us with this.”
I squeezed her fingers. “Thank you for letting me be whole.”
David Sr raised an eyebrow. “So... does Dro know yet?”
I groaned, “That’s next, and I can’t even begin to imagine how he reacts.” I chuckled nervously.
Michelle, who’d been silent until now, tilted her head and smiled knowingly. “You might be surprised. Dro’s a lot of things, but when it comes to you, baby, he’s a big ol’ softie.”
And just like that, the final wall inside me cracked open, and light rushed in, because I wasn’t hiding anymore.
If heart palpitations burned calories, I’d have lost fifteen pounds by the time I walked into Caleb and Yanna’s kitchen.
It had been two weeks since I introduced Maverick and Knox to my mom’s side of the family, and I finally mustered the courage to bring Dro and everyone else together to do it for the last time.
Everything was perfect, too perfect, and that made me even more nervous.
The house smelled like heaven dipped in hot grease and slow braises. Knox was in the kitchen, like the culinary God he was, sleeves rolled up, revealing his tattooed forearms, an apron hugging him just right, a gold-bottom grill flashing with every taste test and perfectly timed wink.
The spread? Korean fried chicken with a sweet gochujang glaze and buttermilk dipping sauce, collard green kimchi with smoked turkey necks, candied sweet potatoes with a sesame brittle crumble, a gochugaru-spiced mac and cheese with a parmesan crust, braised bulgogi short ribs glazed in a soy-brown sugar glaze, and sweet cornbread mochi with honey butter.
This was not just dinner; it was a peace offering, dipped in spice and smoked with forgiveness.
Knox gave me a soft smile as I hovered near the kitchen island like a shadow. “You good, baby?”
“No,” I said, sipping my sparkling water like it was moonshine, “I feel like I’m about to come out all over again.”
Yanna stepped behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder. “Because you are, but this time, you’re not alone, you got us, and that’ll never change.”
I leaned into her warmth. The doorbell sounding, and in they came like waves: my father Dro and his fiancée Andrea, who just so happened to be Caleb’s mother (don’t ask, long story), my uncle Ant and aunt Lily, along with the rest of the tribe: CJ, Rio, Callie, Milo, Leah, and AJ all sniffing the air asking what that heavenly smell was.
Ahmir and Dana were already there, sitting cozy in a corner with glasses of wine and smirks that knew too much. Caleb floated in, hosting with charm turned all the way up, kissing his mama’s cheek and greeting Dro with a dap and a hug.
Dinner moved like honey, sweet, slow, rich with flavor and family banter.
But me? My nerves were sautéed, flambéed, and served over anxiety risotto.
When everyone was seated, I stood up. My hands were slick with sweat, and my heart was pounding like I was back ripping through the sky in a fighter jet.
“So, I uh, I called everyone here because I wanted to share something important. About who I am, about who I love.”
Every eye turned to me, but the forks continued to shovel Knox’s food into their mouths.
I looked at Maverick and Knox, who sat side by side, calm and confident like the twin flames of my soul. And then to Yanna, who gave me the slightest nod, her approval wrapping around me like the softest cashmere throw.
“I’m in a relationship,” I said, “With both of them,” looking in Maverick and Knox’s direction.
The silence would’ve been deafening had Dro not choked on his food, and Mama Drea started patting his back, telling him to hold his arms up like a toddler and shit.
Chuckling, I continued with my mission, “I’m polyamorous, and Maverick and Knox are sexually fluid men who love each other and me. We’ve built something honest, passionate, and good. I know it might not make sense to everybody, and I know it’s different, but it’s real, and it’s mine.”
And just as the pause began to stretch, Yanna stood beside me and said, “And since we’re dropping truth, Caleb and I are poly too. We’ve been in a relationship with Dana and Ahmir for a while now.”
BOOM.
CJ threw his hands in the air, grinning.
“PAY UP! I need my money in 24 hours or I’m assessing late fees and shit.
I told y’all! Rio, Callie, Milo, I needs my money, and don’t worry, AJ and Leah, you can hand them bands over as well.
I said these two were into some freaky low-light, scented-oil, plant-mister shit! ”
The whole table burst into laughter. I laughed too, primarily due to my nerves, relief, and pure “what in the island hell just happened?”
Then Dro shook his head and chuckled, “Like father, like daughter.”
My head snapped in his direction. “Excuse me, what the hell does that mean?”