Chapter 35
I had just hit Enter, finalizing a project I had been working on.
It was something I wasn’t sure I could pull off, but I knew only time would tell.
I decided to switch up my flow for the day and work on some music when an email from the school caught my attention.
Receiving daily emails wasn’t new, but when it pertained to financials, that was a red flag.
I quickly opened the email and saw that my courses for the semester were in the red. “What the fuck?” I muttered.
I picked up my phone and called my father.
I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it had to be a mistake.
It was the start of my senior year, and I was told I hadn’t paid for my classes.
The phone rang but went unanswered. I checked my watch to see the time.
I knew if I left now, I’d have enough time to drive to Lake Hill and return, giving me about three hours to sleep before my class tomorrow.
During the three-hour drive, I was filled with questions that kept my mind racing.
When I arrived at my parents’ house, I saw that my father’s car was not there.
I wasn’t surprised because, growing up, his job had always been more important.
His job was the easiest excuse to run from the things that were going on beyond the hundred-thousand-dollar wall we called home.
As I entered the house, the sounds of my mother arguing with someone caught my attention.
“Don’t tell me I made a mistake, goddamnit, I know I did. ”
It wasn’t unusual that she was arguing with someone because it was like a daily thing for her, but the shit she was saying was what bothered me.
I crept closer toward the kitchen, where she was.
“Well, Bobbie and I decided to cut him off. Music, tuh, who decides to choose music as a major?” she hissed.
So, they cut me off? I thought. In my mind, I couldn’t let them take away the one thing that brought me a bit of joy.
All I needed was enough money to carry me through this semester, then I could figure everything out myself.
Instead of approaching her, I backed into my father’s office.
I knew the nigga had a safe in here somewhere, but I wasn’t sure.
I moved quickly, looking high and low in every nook and cranny.
I figured he would keep one. I walked over to his shelf as my eyes scanned all his law books.
I began moving them in and out, hoping to spot a hidden knob or a key-coded safe.
I was moving so fast that books fell, slamming against the floor. “Fuck,” I whispered as I froze.
I wasn't sure whether the noise of the books clashing was loud enough for her to hear.
If it was, she would be walking in any second.
I crouched to pick them up when something caught my eye.
As I looked at it, a wave of sickness washed over me.
It was like a switch flipped inside, and in that moment, I understood.
The door swung open. “Braylen!” my mother called out.
I slowly stood, holding the law book in my hand. I closed it before sliding it back into its place. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
I stared at the title long and hard. “I-I,” I hesitated.
“You what? Speak up. Your father isn’t here, and you know you shouldn’t be in here. Now, get out!” she spat.
I turned around to face her. When she caught my energy, her head flew back slightly.
I moved closer, and my eyes never wavered.
Cutting me off was one thing, but what I just saw was another.
My mind changed about asking for or taking any money from them.
Everything I knew or thought it was, wasn’t.
I knew once I left this house, they were dead to me, Braylen included.