11. Treasure
TREASURE
My mama walked with me out of the mental facility and escorted me to her car. I didn’t know I would be getting out today until this morning. Kingsley was filthy because he’d been fishing and hunting all morning. I had been here for a total of two weeks and was beyond ready to go home.
Kingsley had come to see me and spend time with me every day for the last week I was there, after I finally welcomed him back into my life.
Our conversations had gotten easier, and we were able to joke around a little more than we had been.
We had even walked around the hospital while we talked.
Therapy had been helping me tremendously.
Mrs. Gardener had been amazing. Since I would no longer be in the hospital, I would be seeing her once a week at her office.
I was so happy to be going home and ready to begin again.
I wished I had felt this way when I went home from the hospital after the attack first happened.
I was so damn traumatized I wouldn’t even talk.
When I finally did, I started counseling.
I wished I had gone to Mrs. Gardener back then.
Kingsley and I would be so much further in our relationship.
I supposed things happened the way they were supposed to.
While I didn’t understand the reason right now, I was more than sure I would figure things out later.
“I’m so happy to have you back home, baby.”
“I’m glad to be going home, Mama. I’m sorry for the heartache I put y’all through.”
She stopped walking and pulled me in her arms. I wrapped my arms around her waist and leaned my head against hers.
“You don’t owe us an apology. I’m just happy everything turned out for the better.
We are going to talk more and be honest with one another.
Whatever you are feeling or going through will be taken more seriously by not just all of us, but by you as well.
I feel like you brushed your feelings to the side, thinking you were overreacting.
Serita said whenever you need her, call her. It doesn’t matter the day or time.”
Serita was Mrs. Gardener’s first name. She was gifted at what she did and was definitely fulfilling her purpose in life. She had me spewing feelings I’d never uttered to a soul. She made me see how I was being careful with everyone’s feelings except my own.
Once I’d gotten past what happened and was trying to heal myself, I was so angry at Mythic.
I had never admitted that to anyone. Mythic felt bad enough about what happened.
I was able to push past my anger without revealing it to anyone, for my brother’s sake.
If I could do that for him, why couldn’t I do it for myself?
Although that wasn’t healthy, I still considered his feelings before my own.
I kept it together for him. If I could fight the urge to blame him for everything I went through, why couldn’t I fight the feelings of fear and shame?
Those people spewed some awful words, but they weren’t God.
They could be taken down, just like anyone else, if I tapped into the Treasure I was before all of this.
I was resilient, strong, and confident. I let them tear me down, but I was going to make a comeback.
When I released my mama, we got into her car and headed home.
Seeing the passing scenery made me smile.
I didn’t think I ever wanted to see raggedy ass Beaumont ever again.
All the construction irritated me, but now, I was smiling like I was on a tropical island at the most beautiful beach God had ever created.
My mama grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.
She was so happy to see me happy. I knew that without a shadow of a doubt.
We were best friends. While I had quite a few acquaintances and people I considered friends and family, she was my numero uno.
If my mama didn’t know, then no one knew.
There was only one person who was getting to that level of closeness. Kingsley Henderson.
“So, when we get home, we have to make some Biscoff cookies. I have been dying for some.”
My mama chuckled. “Why didn’t you say something? I would have made them and brought them to you.”
“I wanted them to be my reward for getting past this . . . or rather working to get past this. My first accomplishment was not dying. The second is actually making it back home out of that mental hospital. I plan to start celebrating my wins a little more. Surviving what I went through is a huge win. My biggest failure was focusing on the hurt. That caused me to be defeated, Mama. That was what led me down this road. Mrs. Gardener helped me to see that. I need to focus on just being here to overcome.”
Mama nodded as a tear trickled down her cheek.
I swiped it away as she drove. She was such a beautiful woman.
Her milk chocolate skin had reddened as I continued stroking her cheek.
Seeing the bags under her eyes let me know just how much she’d been struggling with this.
She took her appearance seriously. Sis stayed on top of her skin care routines.
“I’m going to be fine, Mama. You can stop worrying and actually sleep at night now. I love you so much.”
She released her cries as she drove, but a smile somehow emerged from it.
When she was able to get her emotions subdued, she said, “I love you so much too. You don’t know how hard I’ve been praying for you.
I was always aware of God’s love and His greatness, but this situation strengthened my prayer life like you wouldn’t believe.
When I was awake at night, I would go to your room and just cry and pray.
He definitely answers prayer. I want you to be whole again, and it seems like you are on track to that. ”
I nodded and grabbed her hand again. Swiping at my own tears, I couldn’t help but smile again. “So I guess you gon’ be at church with Grandma Rose Sunday then, huh?”
She smiled. “Girl, I been at church with her every Sunday since you went to the hospital. She even had me fast for a week. We would pray together.”
“What did you fast from?”
“The things I love the most, besides my family . . . baking treats and eating them.”
I laughed, and it caused her to do the same.
“Your laugh is so beautiful. It’s music to my ears, baby.”
I smiled. “So you didn’t fulfill any orders?”
“Not a one. I needed to take the time to battle the devil. I refused to let him take you from me. I also refused to allow him to make you feel like you were better off dead. You have so much potential to fulfill. You have barely begun to live, baby.”
I nodded in agreement. “I know that now. It’s hard to believe I allowed depression and fear to sabotage my self-worth.
I even remember thinking that I no longer had value.
Sinking to that level nearly had me buried.
I can’t allow that to happen again. I want to experience so much .
. . all the things you guys were trying to help me see I needed when I graduated from high school. ”
She smiled. “It’s good to have you back, baby.”
As we passed through Nome, I smiled, thinking about Kingsley and how he was probably a funky ass mess earlier. I chuckled at the thought. I glanced at my mama and said, “I was just thinking about how much Kingsley probably stank after fishing this morning.”
She chuckled too. “I ain’t neva seen a nigga that like to fish and hunt as much as he does. I swear. That’s okay though. I want some of that gator he caught the other day.”
I laughed. “Me too. He cooks it well.”
“That boy stayed glued to Kenny growing up, and it shows.”
We chuckled. I glanced at the clock to see it was almost three o’clock.
I thought it was strange that there weren’t a lot of cars at the diner, but then I remembered they closed at two.
Since today was Thursday, they would reopen at five for family night.
They cooked dinner to give families in Nome a break from cooking.
It was all free food. People ate until it was all gone.
The Hendersons were a force to be reckoned with, and it seemed the Semiens and Uncle Red’s kids all knew it.
Mythic, Carter, and Red Squared were married to Mr. Storm’s daughters, Asad was married to Mr. Jasper’s daughter, and Aaliyah would be married to Mr. Jasper’s son.
Here I was, completely in love with Mr. Kenny’s son.
Taking a deep breath, I smiled. Our families would be connected for life now, and I loved that.
When we finally got to Liberty, our street was full of cars. I wanted to panic, thinking something had happened, but I felt like this was my first test. I could see my mama watching me. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths until a slow smile fell on my lips.
“Is this a welcome home party?”
I opened my eyes to see the huge smile on my mama’s face. “I’m so proud of you. I could see you were about to lose it. I was prepared to tell you right before you closed your eyes and took control of your anxiety. God is good.”
I smiled again. “Well, let’s get in there so I can celebrate too! I hope I have some Biscoff cookies in there.”
I hopped out of the vehicle as my mama laughed.
The happiness I felt inside made me feel like myself again.
The ability to take control of things, with the help of Mrs. Gardener, was the work of God.
When I got to the back door, I paused and waited for my mama.
After she caught up with me, I opened the door to see a house full of people. However, one face stood out.
I ran to Kingsley as everyone applauded, welcoming me back home, and nearly hopped in his arms. He laughed and held me tightly. This felt amazing. I was allowing my trauma to cause me to miss out on something so beautiful. Once I released my hold on him, I kissed his lips.
“I love you, King.”
“I love you too, King’s Treasure.”