Me: Yeah. I’m gon’ come alone this time—it’ll be easier.
Vanity: Good. I want all of your attention.
Me: You got it. I had to slide last time to handle ol’ girl.
Vanity: I know. You’re a busy man, but Friday I’m going to blow your mind with what I have for you.
Me: Preview?
Vanity: You’ll have to wait to see it in person, sir.
Me: You know I’m picky.
Vanity: You know I love a man that knows exactly what he wants. See you Friday at this address: 5250 Wayward Manor.
Me: Aight. Lookin’ forward to the shit. See you then.
I was fuming. I knew good and fucking well this nigga wasn’t talking to and planning to meet another bitch before he took me out Friday. I had the right mind to get out of the car and whoop his ass but decided that I had another plan for him. I needed to handle what I was doing now then I was going to handle his trifling ass.
After putting his phone in the cup holder, I watched out of the window until he reappeared. He nodded, letting me know it was good, before opening the door for me. After he shut the door, he turned to lean into the car and folded his arms over his chest.
“I’m gon’ be right here. Do yo’ thang.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked over to meet my sister who’d clearly decided she wasn’t coming off the porch. She looked just as bad, if not worse, than she normally did.
“What are you doing back here?” she spat when I neared. “If it’s about that baby, don’t start. I don’t care.”
“Well, it is about her,” I countered. “She’s doing good and?—”
“I don’t care, Diamond,” she cut me off. “I do. Not. Care,” she reiterated. “If I did I wouldn’t have left her there for you to care for.”
“I thought that maybe if I brought her to see you…”
“What? That I’d magically give a damn about her?” she frowned. “I don’t. I only care about me and taking care of myself.”
She turned to walk away, but I grabbed her fragile arm to stop her.
“This is taking care of you?” I pointed to the track marks. “Shoving this shit into your body?!” She tried to snatch away, but she was too weak. “Answer me! Is it?!”
“Yes!” she shouted. “It’s the only thing that numbs the pain. The only thing that keeps them off my mind,” her voice cracked.
She wanted sympathy and for me to feel bad for her, but I didn’t. Me and her experienced the same damn loss. I knew people grieved differently, but I wasn’t going to allow her to use our loss for her fucked up decisions anymore.
“Okay, Gwen, we lost our parents,” I snapped. “Welost our parents! Not just you, I did too. And since then, I’ve not only had to deal with my own grief, but yours too and now you’ve addedyourresponsibilities to my plate.”
“Then give her up, Diamond. Who cares?” She glared at me. “She’s damn sure better off without me and maybe she’ll be better off without you too.”
“No, she needs me,” I countered, “and she needs love. From her damn mother.”
“Then be her damn mother because I don’t want to be, now let me go.”
“If I do, Gwen, I’m done,” I gritted. “And I mean for good. I know I told you that last time, but for the sake ofyourchild, I’m trying again, but I’m telling you, if you go back in that house instead of going to get the help you need to care for her, you won’t ever see either of us again.”
She held my gaze for a few seconds then said, “When that day comes, it’ll be too soon.”
Not being able to help myself, I balled up my fist, reached back then hit her in her shit. She was weak and fragile, so she fell back into the door, dazed. She held onto her bleeding nose as she looked at me in disbelief.
“You hit me?!”
