“Dreu, aim that anger toward yo fuckin’ momma. You been running from the truth ever since you came to my house to see the kids. I know what the fuck wrong with her and your dumb ass father. It’s time for you to find out. I’m just going along with you to support you as my little brother because I know how over the top emotional you can be.” He spat.
“But you gone watch how the fuck you get at me.” He gritted.
I turned away from Bleu. My anger was misplaced and I understood it. My eyes scanned the parking lot; I eyed the tall streetlights then dropped my gaze down to my customized sneakers in defeat. Bleu was right, I had been running. I didn’t know from what, but I didn’t want anything throwing my mentaloff. I was the person that found it hard to adapt to major changes.
I swallowed hard and thought about my momma’s actions lately. She didn’t miss calls, never isolated from us or the world. She loved being praised and seen as the fashion goddess she knew she was.
“H-how did Ms. Earline say she sounded?” I asked hesitantly.
“Tired, confused…scared.” Bleu said lowly.
I looked into his eyes and saw heaviness. He looked stressed himself like he was tired of holding back what he thought I needed to know.
“Take me to her.” I said above a whisper.
The drive to Breeze City felt longer than it was. Bleu sped on the freeway with no music playing. My leg bounced uncontrollably, as I looked out of the window.
“No matter what Dreu. Let our parents’ figure shit out on their own. Mother needs counseling and help but none of what you are getting ready to hear or witness has anything to do with you. You can’t fix this shit.” Bleu stated seriously as he exited the freeway.
All I could do was nod my head and ask myself…when did shit get this bad?
I felt my eyes sting then there was a stupid drip in my nose that had me sniffing back emotions that I couldn’t place yet. My anxiety was the worse. Thoughts swirled in my head rapidly as I back handed my nose.
“Man,” Bleu sighed and shook his head. “Please don’t start the bullshit right now. You don’t even know what the fuck going on yet.” He exited off the freeway.
His hand roughly gripped the back of my neck. That gesture alone brought on more tears. I didn’t give a damn what I looked like in front of Bleu. I could always let my emotions and tears out in front of him with no judgement. He might’ve talked a littleshit but never shut me away nor made me feel like I was less than a man because my emotions were hard to hide. Bleu always comforted me when I needed it the most. It realized that Bleu always had it the hardest. I even wondered had I been selfish over the years not being there for him when he really needed me the most.
“It’s gone be straight man. Seasons change and so does people.”
I nodded my head slowly at his revelations of words. I wanted his words to soothe me, but it brought on more worries.
“I love you man.” I back handed a tear.
“I love you too, Dreu. It’s gone be okay man, I’m here no matter what.” He reassured me.
“I’m always here for you too, you know that right?” I looked over at him.
“I know it, so don’t get in your head too much and blame yourself for this current situation. We gone be here for each other and get through this major change.”
We pulled onto our parent’s estate and an eerie feeling crept up my spine. I spotted my mom sitting underneath the old stone fountain my father had installed years ago. It was carved perfectly and cost him a fortune. My mom was the woman frozen mid-pose with her chin lifted high like she was daring the world to look at her. Water trickled softly from the edges, splashing into the basin in a steady rhythm.
My momma sat at its base, legs tucked beneath her, back slumped forward like the weight of life had finally bent her spine. Her silver and gray hair that was always dyed black and styled to perfection was wild and loose blowing from the night breeze. She had on a black silk night gown, no slippers on.
I opened the door and froze seeing my dad’s expensive cognac bottle in her hand. The bottle was one of his prized possessions that he kept locked away. He always brought it outon special occasions just to marvel at it and take one or two shots then store it back in its rightful place. The fact that my momma had an entire bottle of liquor in her hand instead of a champagne flute stomped the hell out of me.
She eyed Bleu first then me and chuckled bitterly. Like a pro, she tipped the bottle back and took a long pull like she hated it then threw the bottle down hard against the stone. I flinched when it shattered around her.
“Ma—” my voice cracked immediately. “What’s wrong?” I asked her carefully.
She laughed hard and bitterly until her laugh turned hollow. The sight before me broke my fucking heart. I wanted to find whoever made her get to this point and break their face. Seeing my mom broken was something I have never witnessed.
“What’s wrong?” She snapped; her head cocked to the side like she was possessed.
“What’s wrong is I gave my fucking life away!” She yelled.
I dropped down in front of her without thinking. I winced at the glass cutting into my knee.
“You gotta talk to me so that I can help you. I never seen you like this before.” I looked away to find Bleu standing off to the side of the fountain with his hands in his pockets.
