TRUTH #4
I thought about the Black card. About Amai’s money. About everything he owed me.
“I can pay that today,” I said.
“Today?” Ms. Patricia sounded surprised. “Are you sure? That’s a significant amount—”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay. Let me transfer you to the bursar’s office, and they can process the payment. And Truth?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m really proud of you for coming back. A lot of students don’t. But you’re doing it. You’re fighting for your future. That’s incredible.”
I felt tears prick my eyes again, but this time they weren’t sad.
They were something else.
Something like hope.
“Thank you, Ms. Patricia.”
“Of course. Hold on, I’ll transfer you now.”
The line clicked, and I was put on hold.
I pulled up the photo of Amai’s card again and stared at it.
He’d given me this card to take care of myself.
Well, this was me taking care of myself.
This was me investing in my future.
This was me making sure I could provide for my children.
Fuck him. This was early child support as far as I was concerned.
The hold music cut off, and a new voice came on the line.
“Bursar’s office, this is Daniel. How can I help you?”
“Hi, I need to pay off an outstanding balance so I can re-enroll. My name is Truth Renois.”
“Let me look that up for you.” More typing. “Okay, I see it here.”
He confirmed the amount, and it matched what I was told by Patricia.
“How would you like to pay today?”
“Credit card.”
“Great. I’ll need the card number, expiration date, and security code.”
I read off the numbers from the photo, my voice steady, my hands calm.
This was the right thing to do.
This was me taking control.
This was me choosing myself.
“All set,” Daniel said. “Your balance is cleared. You should be able to register for classes within the next hour.”
“Thank you.”
I hung up and sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone.
I’d done it.
I’d taken the first steps toward reclaiming my life.
I had a new doctor who would put me first.
I had a lawyer who would protect my rights.
I was going back to school to finish my degree.
I was building a future for myself and my babies.
And I’d done it all without asking permission from anyone.
I placed my hand on my stomach again, feeling the slight curve where my twins were growing.
“We’re going to be okay,” I whispered. “I promise. I’m going to make sure we’re okay.”
My phone buzzed again—Mama’s name flashing across the screen.
This time, I answered.
“Hey, Mama.”
“Truth Renois, where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you for hours!”
“I know. I’m sorry. I just… I needed some time to think.”
“Think about what? What happened? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“No, Mama. He didn’t hurt me. But…” I took a breath. “I found out some things today. Things I need to process.”
“What things?”
“I’m carrying twins.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Twins?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, baby.” Her voice softened. “That’s… that’s a lot.”
“And Amai’s married.”
Another beat of silence.
“He’s what?”
“He’s married, Mama. His wife showed up at the clinic today with his father. I didn’t know. He never told me.”
I heard her exhale hard. “That son of a bitch.”
“Yeah.”
“Where are you now? Are you safe?”
“I’m home. I’m okay. I just… I needed to make some calls. Get some things in order.”
“What kind of things?”
“I found a new doctor. Someone who’s not connected to the Landrys. And I called my lawyer. All communication with Amai has to go through her now.”
“Good. That’s good, baby. What else?”
“I called my college counselor. I’m going back to finish my degree.”
I heard her voice crack. “Truth…”
“I’m not going to be like you, Mama.”
The words came out harsher than I meant them, and I immediately regretted it.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly. “I just mean—I watched you struggle my whole life. I watched you work yourself to the bone trying to take care of us. And I don’t want that for my kids. I want to be able to provide for them. I want to give them stability.”
“I know, baby.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “I know. And I’m proud of you. I’m so damn proud of you.”
The tears came again, but this time I didn’t try to stop them.
“I’m scared, Mama.”
“I know you are. But you’re strong. You’re stronger than you think. And you’re not alone. You hear me? You’ve got me. You’ve got your sisters. We’re going to get through this together. Fuck them Landrys. Rich people always got some weird shit going on.
“I know right.”
“Now get some rest. You’ve had a hell of a day. And call me tomorrow, you hear?”
“I will.”
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, Mama.”
I hung up and set the phone on the nightstand.
My body felt heavy, exhausted, like I’d run a marathon.
But my mind felt clear.
For the first time in weeks—maybe months—I knew exactly what I needed to do.
I needed to build a life that didn’t depend on Amai or Kaisen or anyone else.
I needed to be the woman my children deserved.
And I was going to do it.
No matter what it cost me.
I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes, my hand resting on my stomach.
“We’re going to be okay,” I whispered again. “I promise.”
And for the first time all day, I believed it.
It was time I saved my damn self.