Exposure

EX:23

Chapter 23

Owen's Perspective

"Starve your distractions, feed your focus."-Daniel Goleman

•••••••

         I held the cards firmly in my hand glancing around the living room as everyone took turns putting down a card. The game of spades eased the tension at Heaven's birthday party. For the first time since I had gotten here, there was no reason to filter my mouth or rush awkward incidents. Tiana held onto me while we sat side by side at a table surrounded by Robyn's family playing a game of cards.

"Why did you pick the hearts instead of the queen?"

         Tiana asked as I placed a card on the table out in front of me. I chuckled instructing her on what to do quietly. I liked teaching her new things, she was a good listener and she always seemed intrigued with everything that I had to say.

"The game just started I don't wanna throw down my good ones yet."

We whispered back and forth to another trying not to disrupt the people around us.

"Owen sweetheart who taught you how to play cards?"

Robyn's great auntie asked with curiosity.

"My ole man, he taught me a while back when we used to take family trips and vacations."

She nodded at me with a smile after laying down one of her cards.

"Owen's very close with his family, remember auntie?" Robyn added across the table.

         We played a few more games to pass the time while the kids played outside under supervision. The day wasn't intense as I had thought it would be. When it was time to sing Happy Birthday and cut Heaven's cake, I figured that Tiana and I would stay for a couple of more minutes and give Heaven her gift before getting back on the road again.

"Imma head to the bathroom right quick," I said to Tiana as she nodded her head paying attention to my deck of cards.

       The hallway was filled with people holding red solo cups in their hands consisting of punch and water. They conversed as I maneuvered through them heading for the nearest place to release my urine.

I had been holding my piss for over an hour now and I was praying that there was no one in line to use the bathroom and to my surprise, there wasn't.

        After I finished washing my hands I straightened out my shirt in the bathroom mirror and proceeded back out into the hallway filled with family portraits. There were fewer people standing out front than before. I stuffed my hands into my pockets looking up to find Robyn entering my eyesight.

"Hey," she said as if we hadn't been around each other all day.

"Hi," I responded simply making my way back to the living room.

"Can you come with me for a few seconds?"

I raised one of my eyebrows questioning her intentions.

My conscience told me that it would be a bad idea that I would have to pay for but for some reason, I was very intrigued, so I moved quickly without thinking.