She looked broken. Her eyes were swollen, and her lips trembled as she tried to hold her composure, and for the first time in my life, I felt completely powerless. I took a step toward her, but she backed up, and my heart dropped lower than it ever had.
“Treasure,” I said softly, “please do not leave me.”
She closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek. I lifted her hand gently and kissed the back of it the way I always had when we were young and certain of everything. Her fingers trembled under my lips.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I am so sorry. Just tell me how to fix this.”
She looked up at me with so much sadness it almost brought me to my knees. “Kwame, you can’t fix anything if you refuse to see what you broke,” she said. “I love you, but I’m losing myself here. I have to go before there is nothing left of me to save.”
I shook my head. “Do not do this. Do not leave me.”
She stepped away and walked toward the car. Her hands shook as she lifted her suitcase into the trunk. I tried to move toward her, but something in her posture stopped me. She was choosing herself for the first time, and I couldn’t force her back into a place that was crushing her.
Treasure opened the back door, paused for one last look at me, and climbed inside. The driver hesitated, waiting for my reaction, but I only lifted my hand for him to go. The car began to roll down the long driveway as I stood barefoot on the steps of the home we built together, watching my wife disappear.
With every inch the car moved, my heart felt heavier. By the time the gates closed behind them, devastation settled in my body like a weight I didn’t know how to carry.
Treasure was gone, and I had no idea how to bring her back.
Trill-Land, Jungle Estate
Two weeks later…
Me and my cousins was on the patio choppin’ it up like we always did, drinkin’ and smokin’ with the sun low and the fans turnin’ slow overhead. The backyard lights was comin’ on one by one, glowin’ over the pool while the speakers bumped low in the background.
Toni and Pluto had dipped off earlier to go buy lil’ decorations for the gender reveal Kay’Lo had comin’ up next week, and soon as they left, the whole vibe shifted back into nigga mode.
Kay’Lo sat in the chair to my left with a glass full of dark liquor like he was tryna drown his thoughts in it. Renza wasacross from me with a blunt he refused to pass on schedule, talkin’ loud like always, laughin’ at shit that wasn’t funny but somehow still was. I leaned back with my legs stretched out, and let the smoke glide from my mouth while I watched the flame dance on top of the candles Pluto left out. She swore she was runnin’ aromatherapy in my backyard. I ain’t complain though. I liked the shit.
Kay’Lo took a sip and shook his head slow. “Man, I’m sick of this case shit hangin’ over me. Niggas actin’ like I just woke up one mornin’ and chose violence.”
Renza nodded, his face twistin’ like the thought annoyed him. “Nigga, you ain’t do nun wrong. Them cornball niggas came to yo’ shop. They got what they got. You ain’t supposed to let nobody run up on you.”
I tapped ash over the railin’. “You gon’ get through it though. You got Kade on ya team, and that nigga don’t play when it come to shit like this.”
Kay’Lo exhaled the kind of breath a nigga let out when he tryna calm somethin’ inside him. “Yeah. I know.”
Renza leaned forward, irritation already risin’ in his chest. “I been chillin’, man. I been real fuckin’ chill for the sake of this nigga. But if that weak lil’ A’Mii nigga keep talkin’, I’m gon’ have to show him why my name hold weight. He online still runnin’ his mouth every damn day like he ain’t got no job. I’m ‘bout ready to go collect that nigga soul.”
Kay’Lo’s eyes narrowed, but he stayed leaned back in his chair. “Man, fuck that nigga. He ain’t bold in real life. He ain’t gon’ pull up nowhere.“
I shook my head once. “If them niggas wanna come play, let ’em walk through that gate.”
Kay’Lo took another drink. “Man, Toni showed me that fake page that sent her that picture of the crib. I’m tryna figure out who it is but they too pussy to come at me direct.”
“Whoever it is,” I said, “they gon’ slip. They always do.”
Kay’Lo shook his head, refusin’ to feed the anger any more. “I ain’t talkin’ about that shit no more today. We supposed to be celebratin’ this gender reveal comin’ up.”
Renza perked up. “Oh yeah. Lil’ Kay’Lo Junior on the way.”
Kay’Lo smiled into his cup. “Nigga, it’s gon’ be a girl. I feel that shit in my soul.”
I smirked. “A girl?”
“Yup,” he said. “I know it.”
Renza laughed so loud he coughed. “Nigga, it don’t matter if it’s a boy or girl. Just pray that baby got Toni’s sense. ‘Cause you? Boy, hell nah.”
