The Grey Area

16

I hear silence for a while so I decide my minds just playing tricks on me and walk up to Leilani's front door gently knocking.

"What you want?" A woman asks me taking a puff of her cigarette.

"Sorry, is Leilani here?" I ask.

"Leilani somebody askin bout you," she rolls her eyes turning her head.

"Oh uh h-hey Kyra," she says looking down.

"Hey uh you wanna come over?" I ask realizing somethings wrong.

"U-uh," she looks at her mom.

"I don't give a fuck bout what you do, if the doors locked don't bother to try knocking," Leilani's mom says.

"Thank you ma'am," she says at an almost whisper before walking out.

"Mhmm," her mom rolls her eyes shutting the door behind Leilani.

We silently begin to walk to my house.

"Were you screaming earlier?" I ask.

"Yeah it's nothing my mom just got mad."

"It didn't sound like nothing."

"You won't tell anybody right?" She asks looking ashamed.

I shake my head in response.

We step into my house and even the dim light makes the hand print on her face visible.

"Lemme get you some ice," I say.

"Thanks," she sighs.

I put some ice in a bag and wrap a paper towel around it.

"She does coke, that's why she's like that," Leilani says looking down at the table.

"I'm sorry," I say.

"It's fine I'm used to it," she sighs.

"Why'd she hit you this time?" I ask.

"Um..can you promise me you won't tell anyone this," she asks.

"I pinky promise," I say holding out my pinky making her laugh.

"Um well...I'm pregnant, that's why we moved this time, I got sick and she got mad," she says hesitantly.

"How far along?" I ask shocked.

"Almost 4 months."

"Not to be weird but can I see?" I ask and she laughs.

"Yeah," she says and pulls her shirt up.

I see a small baby bump and smile.

"I don't know how I feel about it," she says.

"Part of me is happy and another part of me wishes I had got an abortion. I feel like I'm too young but at the same time I feel ready, it's just the pressure of society I guess, it also doesn't help that I'm constantly fighting with my moms," she admits.

"Just make sure you aren't having the baby for the wrong reason, kids are a lot to handle and they're a permanent responsibility too, that's the advice my mom would give. She had me young so she understands," I advise her.

"Yeah I guess...I'm just trying to save up the money so I can move out, I already have enough but I wanna be comfortable so I'm not constantly worrying about being able to pay for necessities," she sighs.

"Kyra who in my kitchen?" I hear my momma ask.

"It's my friend Leilani," I say.

"Well I'm bout to order some pizza what y'all girls want?" She asks.