“Alayah, do not go back over there. The last thing you need is to be enticed into a fight and someone to call the police. You’ll be back in a cell before morning.”
“I won’t go back, but I won’t stay away from my sisters. If they want to see me, I’m going to see them. I’ve lost too much time with them already.”
She sighed. “I get it. You helped raised them. You took care of them. They’re your babies, but ultimately, they’re hers. She has a say in who they are around. I encourage you to proceed with caution or have a conversation with her.”
“There is no talking to that woman. If I could talk to her, I wouldn’t be sitting here with you. She hates me. She’s always hated me, and she’s never failed to let me know that.”
She offered me a sympathetic look followed by a sigh. “I understand. Just be careful, okay?”
I nodded. We talked for a while longer before she dismissed me. I left the office with my mood slightly deflated. As I took the elevator down to the lobby, I took some deep breaths to calm my nerves as I recited my affirmations.
I am resilient and can overcome any obstacle.
I ambecoming the best version of myself.
I deserve success andhappiness.
I am in control of my thoughts and emotions.
I choose peace and tranquility in my life.
I amdeserving of respect and kindness.
With a deep breath, I stepped off the elevator and made my way through the front then out to the street. Uncle Clive’s shop was only about a fifteen-minute walk from here, so I made strides toward my destination.
When I walked in, Londyn was talking to a customer. I spoke and kept it moving to the time clock before heading back to the break room to put my things in my locker. After slipping my phone in my pocket, I closed the locker and damn near jumped out of my skin when I came face-to-face with Londyn and her wide smile.
“Don’t do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
“My bad, boo. Sooo…”
“So what?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t make me beg. What happened last night? You just ditched me for that man. See, this friendship is starting off all wrong.”
“You left me with him to go suck face with that guy.”
She laughed. “Okay. Maybe I started it. I was coming back, though.”
I playfully rolled my eyes. “Sure, you were. Did you leave with him?”
She smiled as she looped her arm through mine and began walking back in the direction of my office.
“Friend, I’m not gonna lie. I hadn’t seen him in a while, and I needed some dick. But we aren’t talking about me. We are talking about you and that man candy you left with. Is he the reason you’re late to work?”
“No, Londyn. I had a meeting with my parole officer this morning. I made it home before my curfew last night.”
“So what did y’all do?”
I took a seat at my desk, and she took one across from me.
“We were talking about me missing out on a lot of life, and I said something about wanting to live on the wild side for a moment to feel normal.” I held out my arm. “He took me to get a tattoo.”
She gasped dramatically. “Oooo,that’s cute and befitting. Did he get one?”
I nodded. “He added this same one to his chest piece.”
“Okay for the matching tattoos! Oh, so you got to see him in all his glory.”
