Chapter 15 #2
“Yeap! That’s why that wheelchair is in the living room. We are outside, still. Baby and all.”
My little baby in her cute summer fits, enjoying the sun, was a summer that I looked forward to. To be honest, I looked forward to everything now that I’d escaped death.
“Glow?” I called again before she walked out.
“Hmm?”
“Please try. I know it's hard to…” I sighed. “I know it’s hard. But please try—for me.”
“I will, sis. Besides… Tunan will have me at four hundred pounds in no time.” She rolled her eyes.
“I’d love to see that.”
“Girl, bye!”
I snickered at her back, pain sharp in my chest. She closed the door behind her, and I took in the silence.
The bags matched the balloons—an array of pinks and yellows.
A few of the bags featured printed glitter that my mom would complain about all day.
The day wouldn’t end without her changing the sheets, even if she didn’t see a speck of glitter on them.
The bags on the bed would be proof enough.
Clutching the thick, white ribbon that ran along the length of the long stems, I admired the much-needed gift.
I loved flowers, yes, but I was most grateful for the money.
I wasn’t broke, but without a job and with my college career hanging in the balance, along with a new baby, I needed every penny.
I’d made the Dean’s List both semesters at BU, but I had to think about my daughter now.
There was no way I was going to take my baby away from my family to try to raise her on my own while juggling school in Cove City.
Using my index finger, I traced the beautiful blue roses wrapped in crisp one-hundred-dollar bills.
The blues of the money and the flowers complemented each other so well.
I knew my sister said she didn’t mind that Tunan had given me such an elaborate gift, but still, I couldn’t believe he’d done so.
Maybe that’s how husbands were with their sisters-in-law?
I didn’t know. Glow never had anyone even close to becoming my brother-in-law.
I also didn’t know many people with husbands to be privy to their behavior.
Ignoring the ache in my lip, I dug my phone out from the side of the oversized chair.
My sister had gotten me a brand-new one since mine was ruined in the wreck.
There were a few Facebook notifications from old classmates wishing me a happy birthday.
I’d reply to them all in due time. Tapping the Instagram icon, I hit the plus sign to add a video to my story.
Once I had a good boomerang of my flowers and gifts, I added a happy birthday song and uploaded it to my stories.
My little ten thousand followers, whom I’d only gotten because my sister tagged me in several reels and posts, probably thought I was the most boring person on the planet.
I rarely kept up with my social media accounts, unlike most girls my age.
I didn’t know how I’d gotten there, but I found myself in my direct messages, staring at the last message Leader had sent me.
Number_1: I’m putting you on my visitors list. Visitation is Friday from 7-11. This ain’t a request, Pretty Mama.
Before my emotions got the best of me, I locked my screen and placed the phone on the nightstand next to the baby caddy.
Closing my eyes, I rested my head against the sofa as I took in everything around me.
I was alive. I’d made it to celebrate another birthday.
I’d fumbled some things but had gained major with my daughter being the perfect angel she was.
I didn’t understand what the Big Man upstairs was trying to show me, but I could see that I was under a major test.
My stomach clenched. I swallowed a lump of saliva as I stared at the backs of my eyelids.
I hated this feeling. I was beginning to think that everything connected to my first love was just bad luck.
I fell for him at school and gave him my virginity, only to find out he was still having sex with his baby mama, or at least according to her he was.
Plus, his brother got my best friend, so we had to go across state lines to an abortion clinic.
I can still see the blood-stained pads gathered in her underwear for days.
That’s one.
I went through the worst heartbreak of my life when I should’ve been having the best time of my life as a freshman in college. He ended up being sentenced to ten years in prison. I somehow ended up pregnant and nearly died giving birth to the baby I didn’t even know was in my womb.
That’s two.
I did as he asked and went to visit him in prison, and not only did I give him my body before I’d healed, but I also nearly lost my life in a head-on collision.
That’s three. Three strikes, Glee. You know what you have to do.
As deeply as I cared for Leader, I had to let him go.
At this point, I didn’t know if it was even a good idea to alert him or his family about the baby.
As soon as I activated the new phone from Glow, I blocked his mom and siblings’ numbers again.
I knew he’d asked me to unblock her and keep in touch, but his world was too much for me.
I’d tell him he was a father to a beautiful little girl one day, but right now, I wanted to savor the fact that I was alive.
I also needed to cleanse myself of all things Leader again.
I felt I was completely over him until I looked into my baby girl’s face.
Then, I was sucked back into his world, driving toward my own demise when I should’ve been handling my business to continue my education.
I wasn’t built for his world. I could now see why he had a baby mother who was older than him.
Leader was too grown up for a girl one year out of high school.
Boom!
“Now I know my best bitch is not asleep on her birthday!”
My eyes flew open before I tried hopping up from the chair, but I was quickly reminded that I couldn’t.
“Blayyyykie?”
With a birthday bag held to her side, my gorgeous bestie waltzed into the room. I angled my body so I could face her, or as much as I could with my restrictions.
“Frienddddd! Happy birthday to the baddest bitch this world has ever seen!” She grinned, easing down beside me.
I blinked, making sure these weren’t side effects of the medicine, but it couldn’t have been because I hadn’t taken any yet.
Her skin was flawless as always, but her inflamed, red-rimmed eyes had me on alert.
She also looked like she’d lost a little weight.
Blayke was always thick in the hips, but she looked slimmer than she did weeks ago.
“Blayke…” I could hear the concern in my voice just as she had.
She shook her head as to dismiss my worry. “I’m here to stay, Calista. I already talked to your sister, and she doesn't mind, as long as you are good with having me as a roommate again.”
I tucked her hair behind her ear. She was wearing her real hair, parted down the middle, and it fell just below her shoulders.
I knew her mom had taken her to the beautician, who was one of the ushers at the church.
Her parents only liked it when Blayke wore her real hair, but Blayke hated it because her hair was on the thin side.
I loved whatever Blayke loved. To me, she was beautiful in any hairstyle, and I loved her natural hair.
“Are you crazy? Of course, you can stay! I was barely hanging on without you these few weeks.” We giggled before I reached for her hand. “What happened?”
She kissed her teeth loudly. “Somebody at the church told them we were at the hospital. That’s how they found out. Them people took my phone and damn near did an exorcism on me.” She rolled her eyes.
“Oh, bestie. I feel so bad.”
“Girl, please! For what? If anything, you got pregnant because of me. I was pregnant first. I brought them niggas around. I’m sorry for not being here, bestie. You know my parents are fucking insane.” She poked her lip out, not bothering to stop her tears.
“It’s okay… None of this is your fault.”
“It is! Because if I were with you, we’d be bent over a table, twerking at brunch right now instead of crying like punk bitches while you banged up.” She cried, chest heaving and all.
“Oh no, Blayke. If you were with me, we would’ve both gotten into the wreck, I’m sure.”
“Well… We would be two cripple hoes together. I don’t like this bestiiiieeeeeeeee.” Her head fell into my chest.
“It’s okay… I’m okay. See?”
She shook her head no and then popped up, wiping her face with her hand. “I’m sorry. I’m such a selfish bitch! This isn’t about me, and damn, I forgot you’re sore, and I’m throwing myself all over you.”
We stared at each other, crying like morons through laughs.
That’s what I loved about my best friend.
We were opposites in many ways, but the same too.
I could let her drag me into things that went against everything I stood for, and I’d still end up having the best time.
We could also be curled up on a couch, binge-watching my favorite '90s rom-coms while stuffing our faces with junk. We genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, no matter what we were doing.
She was truly my soul mate in the form of a friend.
“Next time you almost die, you'd better not do it without me, hoe!”
“I don’t plan on there being a next time for a long time, Blayke.”
“Good. I’ll be right there beside you when the time comes. If we die together, I have a better chance of going to Heaven. I’ll be holding on to you so tightly. God will have no choice but to let ya girl in.”
I laughed and grabbed my side from the sore ribs. “I’m the one who had the baby out of wedlock. He may send me down there first and fast.”
“Oh, please… I’m worse. I got pregnant and killed the damn baby.”
“I’m not going back to Blake U!” I blurted out.
“And neither am I. For one, I was living in your house for free, remember, so if you're not there, I damn sure ain't. And now that I'm cut off, I can't afford that damn school anyway.”