She tried coming out of the house. “What the fuck was I supposed to do? Go beat his ass because you two don’t get along? Nigga, that’s not my business! Percy, I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
I went to move around her, and she stood in front of me. I pointed inside the house. “I need to get my daughter. Move.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “When were you going to tell me that you and Phoebe were fucking?”
I ran my hand down my face because I knew she had seen the video. My guilty eyes landed on her. “It was before you. I haven’t fucked her in a while.” I paused as something clicked. “Who told you her name?”
She backpeddled.
“Because you just made it seem like you don’t fuck with your cousin like that. He told you?”
The sound of my daughter crying threw me off. I pushed past Royce and went inside. I moved through the house to the room where my daughter was, only to find an iPad sitting on the bed, playing footage from different parts of the campus.
“What the fuck is this?” I shouted as I turned to see Royce standing there. “You a spy or some shit? You’re the one sending the fucking videos, aren’t you?”
She tried to snatch it out of my hand, but I jerked it out of her reach. “Give that to me!” she shouted.
“You know my Nan told me about pretty faces and fat asses. I should have learned with my baby momma, but it seems like all of you are the same. Sneaky and fucked up, and you wonder why you’re lonely.”
I tossed the iPad back on the bed and picked up my daughter. Royce pulled at my shirt. “Wait! It wasn’t supposed to be like that.”
I shook my head. “Royce, save it. The shit you’re doing is goingto get somebody hurt. It’s really no excuse, dog, for real. It’s crazy how we’re all going to a school that’s supposed to house excellent Black people, but we ain’t nothing but a bunch of fucked-up kids going to a hood-ass school. Even the ones you think aren’t fucked-up are.”
At this point, it was about making it and getting as far away from Toussaint as I could. I knew this life wasn’t a way for Breann, and I would’ve been a fool to think that raising her around this was going to be fitting. I had my mind made up that I was going to let God lead and give my daughter the life she needed when I met up with Dio’s brother, even if it meant her being with a new family.
SAMARA
The sound of my twins’ laughs woke me up. After Dio practically told me goodbye last night, I cried myself to sleep. I was pulling myself from the bed to go into the room to check on them when the shadow of someone walking past scared me. I reached into my drawer, grabbed the gun Dio kept by the bed, and pulled it out.
“I’m about to blow your fucking head off!” I yelled as I came out of the room.
When I saw who was standing at the end of the hall, I cocked the gun back. “Put my brother down.”
She bounced Peace up and down while cooing at his face. “I said put him down!” I shouted this time.
She stopped bouncing him as she cut her eyes at me. “Fine!”
That was when she tossed Peace, and my heart almost left my chest as I ran forward, hitting my mother with the butt of the gun. “You fucking bitch!”
She shoved me off her as she tried to get away. “Calm down, Samara.” The gentle tone of a man stopped me.
I turned to see him holding Peace. He was incredibly beautiful and angelic. His skin was like pure chocolate, with a smooth headresembling a Milk Dud, and his eyes seemed almost otherworldly, like white. He wore all-white garments with light gold accents draping his neck. He gently placed Peace into his car seat while Savior stared at him just as I did.
“Who are you?” I asked.
He stood as he came around, holding his hand out for mine. “I am the Mighty One. Your mother has told me much about you, and she felt it was time to meet the beautiful being she speaks of. I must say you are a breath of fresh air. Sit?”
I didn’t move. I turned to look at my mother, who was looking down at the floor. “How did y’all get in my place? I’m calling the police.”
“Relax. We come in peace. I wanted to talk to you myself. Your mother has told me you refuse to come to Shine Your Light. Why?”
This shit had to be a dream. I never asked for much in life; all I wanted was a family who loved me, a good education, and to fall in love. Although I had all those things, I was still stuck with a delusional mother and her cult.
“I know you’re a cult, and I don’t want any parts. You have nothing to offer me. No, I don’t want to be your wife. No, I’m not wearing those fucked-up garments, and no, I’m not pure.”
He chuckled. “Shine Your Light isn’t any different than the school you go to. We teach you things, things that’ll show you how to be a better you. We have art classes, we put on shows for the commune, we eat well, and party our way on occasion. The place you are in is offering you nothing but heartaches and headaches.”
I pointed to my mother. “Look at her!” I shouted. “She’s fucked up. Why is she looking at the floor? Ma!” I called out. “I know people like you. You brainwash these women, fuck them, and drug them because it’s the only way they’ll listen to your, goofy, silly ass. Get out!”
