“Why do you keep saying that as if we’re getting back together?”
“You think we aren’t?”
“I-I can’t predict the future, but you just got done telling me that I was selfish, and now you’re saying my man is on borrowed time. It’s confusing.”
“It’s very simple. I’ve already let you know what my issues are. If you want something bad enough, then you’ll put in the effort to make sure the person you love knows you’re all in. I’ve been fighting for you for years. I don’t want to be the only one stepping into the ring.”
“If you want me back, just say that,” Lyric jested.
“I never said I didn’t. The ball is in your court, lil’ mama.” My eyes grew heavy, letting me know it would only be a matter of time before I fell asleep. I missed my old bed, and it obviously missed me too from the way it was curving to my back.
Eventually, the two of us fell asleep, but it didn’t last very long. Lyric tossed and turned in her sleep most of the night. I tried to tune out her mumbling, but it got so bad, I couldn’t go back to sleep. Gently, I shook her shoulder to wake her up. She damn near knocked me out when she jumped out of her sleep.
“Leave me alone! Don’t touch me!” she screamed. I sat up with my back against the headboard and attempted to wrap my arms around her. “No, no, no. Please, don’t.”
I could tell she wasn’t completely awake, but her outbursts concerned me. Lyric had been having nightmares for years, but they were never as bad as what I witnessed tonight.
“Hey, it’s me, baby. I promise you’re at home, and you’re safe. Come here.” I lifted her body and straddled her across my lap. My arms were wrapped around her as I rubbed her back. After a few moments of me rocking her in my arms, I heard what sounded like light sniffles. They eventually turned into sobs,and I made sure to hold her tighter to remind her that she was somewhere safe.
“I haven’t felt so helpless in such a long time. My heart exploded when he grabbed Symphonee and took off running. All I could think about was all the disgusting things he did to me and how he would take his anger out on her. He doesn’t care about her, but he wants to get under my skin because he knows she means everything to me. I know it sounds bad, but I wish he was dead. All these years have gone by, and I thought I was finally healing, but then one interaction with him, and I already feel myself spiraling,” Lyric vented.
“Today was triggering, and you have every right to feel the way you do, but I promise you don’t have anything to be afraid of. Even if he had taken her, I would have had her back to you in no time. I keep telling you that I’ve got you, and you never have to feel unsafe as long as my heart is beating. He hurt you in the past, but he doesn’t have power over you any longer, Lola.
“Look at everything you’ve built, baby. You beat every stereotype and stigma that comes with being a teen mother and a parentless child. Every hardship you’ve been through, you’ve overcome and made the shit look effortless. Don’t let anything or anyone rob you of that.”
I had held off on killing that piece of shit a long time ago, but his time was up.
“Do you want to make cookies or brownies?” I asked Symphonee as we made our way through the grocery store.
“Brownies!” my Noodle doodle screamed with excitement. I laughed at the goofy look she was making. My little girl was a mini version of me in every way—a tiny diva in the making.
I was in the mood to cook a nice dinner, and I decided we could make some content at the same time. I’d been trying to be more intentional about my content and posting more often.
“Okay. We’ve got the salmon, potatoes, milk, and now we need a vegetable. What do you think? Should we make broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus?”
“Asmaragas. Bruchel spouts are yucky.” Symphonee turned her face up, causing me to giggle. She loved most vegetables, but there were some that were one and done for her.
“Alright. I’ve got your cereal and my oatmeal. I got the butter, lemons, and garlic.” I stood in the middle of an aisle, reading through a list I made on my phone. I was the type to go into the store with no direction or plan, only to end up spendingfour hundred dollars and still not have a clue what to cook for dinner.
Once I got to the produce section, I scanned the shelves to check for asparagus. I realized that it was further down the section, but there were a bunch of people over there.
Instead of trying to squeeze my cart between all those people, I decided to park the cart by the fruit and run and grab the asparagus. I said excuse me to a couple of ladies who were debating the dangers of Iceberg and Romaine lettuce. They gave me the side-eye but reluctantly moved out of the way.
When I bent down to grab two bushels of asparagus, my stomach twisted when I heard my baby screaming. Symphonee wasn’t the type to throw tantrums or get loud when we were in public, so I knew her cries were of distress.
The moment I lifted my head to see what was going on, my heart almost leaped out of my chest. When I saw Nathan holding my daughter, I damn near pissed on myself.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Put my daughter down!” I hissed.
“She isn’t just your child, but I guess you’ve been so busy shacking up with that hoodlum that you forgot.” He sneered.
“I haven’t forgotten anything. You begged me to stay away from you to preserve your marriage and protect your other kids from the truth. Truthfully, I didn’t want you anywhere near my child, you sick bastard. If anyone has ruined someone’s life, it’s you.”
I couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me trying to act like we were some kind of dysfunctional co-parents or something.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night. You and that boy can pretend all you want, but she’s mine!” Nathan yelled and took off running. Without a second thought, I dropped the asparagus and chased after him, screaming and hollering forsomeone to help me. The store was packed, yet no one moved a muscle to intervene as he headed toward the exit.
My adrenaline kicked in, and I knew if I didn’t catch him, there was a chance I would never see my child again. The world was a crazy and dangerous place, and I wasn’t about to rely on the police to try to find my child. Once we both made it out of the exit, I kicked it into gear, racing as if my life depended on it. When I got close enough, I yanked his shirt, halting him in his tracks. The nerve of him to try to take my baby when he wanted nothing to do with her.
