𝚂𝚃𝙾𝙽𝙴𝙲𝙾𝙻𝙳.

𝟶𝟷.

𝟶𝟸/𝟷𝟽/𝟸𝟷.

It was a sunny spring afternoon, Laila and Rakeem were getting settled into the car after playing for a long time of play at the park. As Rakeem was buckling his bubbly baby girl into her car seat he heard a notification shoot from his phone, addressed from an unknown number. this was strange, Rakeem rarely got texts from unknown numbers if they weren't business or spam. this was way different, By the way they typed and what they said. of course he knew it was Laila's absent mother, Simoné.

His heart rate quickened, he hadn't heard from simoné in nearly a year. Ever since that day she walked out on them, he felt as if his heart was numb to any true feeling about her because not only did she walk out on his single joy in this world, she hurt him, a hurt like no other. All he really wanted for her was a heart ache like the one she left him with or even worse.  Laila's birthday was only months away, why did she wanna come back now? To use her? To really hurt her this time? He refused to allow this.

Henleft the message on read and continued on with his day, him and Laila went out for ice cream before heading to his girlfriend Noelle's apartment to pick her up for the night. He finally thought he found happiness with this girl, but she truly didn't care a damn about him. Unless it was on the topic of money or Laila advantaging her in some way.

After they headed back to Rakeem's house they settled in with some chinese takeout and a movie for Laila. After laila was given a bath and put to sleep, him and Noelle got ready for bed before hopping in and saying their goodnights with a kiss.

After a while of uncomfortable tossing and turning as the thought of Simoné nearly ate him alive, Rakeem turnt over. He was completely restless as all the memories he shared with his baby's selfish mother rummaged through his head, from the night that they conceived her, to the day she was raving in pain as she gave birth to their daughter. He felt scarred, hurt and lost. he was missing Simoné more than ever, but she wasn't for him or this life they created together. Simoné was his one true love and no one could say other wise of it.

But he had to be happy where he was at due to the fact he felt as if Noelle needed him and he needed to stick beside her by all means, he felt as if he was finally at peace physically but not all mentally. The thought finally consumed him before he turned over and grabbed his phone, continuing to read through the text before taping the text bar and beginning to type.

He let out a deep exhale before moving onto his back and closing his eyes, trying to quickly doze off while he cleared his head. He finally fell asleep after hours of overthinking and having what felt like never ending flashbacks. The next morning was Friday, on Friday rakeem always takes laila to his favorite spot, and maybe even hers now. The diner and bakery a few miles away from their home. It's a weekly tradition, their order always consists of the same thing. A small bowl mac and cheese with half a slice of garlic bread while he orders a cheese steak sandwich with home-style fries.

after that they go to 'play street museum' to blow off some extra energy, finishing the day with a tired drake filled car ride and the music  blasting as she fell asleep in her car seat, him occasionally looking back at her. he enjoyed these sweet moments with his little girl the most because it reminded him of what he was fighting & living for.

Rakeem was looking forward to this, he got up at eight forty-five and showered, got dressed and woke Laila up by ten-thirty. He made them some sausage and eggs with a little ketchup on top along with chopped strawberries on the side. After breakfast she played in her toy room until it was time for her hour nap, around twelve-thirty she was put down for her nap.

By the time Laila woke up it was one-thirty & time to go see her grandmother. She loved seeing her a few times each week.

"Okay baby girl, are you ready to go see nana?!"
Rakeem smiled as he spoke in that special excited voice he only ever talked to her in, she waved her little arms as she looked up at him, a big glowing smile shot on her face as she looked up at her father.

"yeah dada!"

He groaned as he picked her up before grabbing her bag, his keys and locking the door behind himself. He unlocked the car door and opened it as he moved his daughter from his arms to her car seat. She kicked her little legs in excitement after she was fully strapped in.

She constantly cheered "Nana!" as she became a giggly mess, seeing his baby girl this happy always made him full in the heart, he'd do anything to see her like this all the time.
As soon as they got there she ran to the front door, noticing her beautiful grandmother. Laila flew into her arms instantly.

They spent time with his mother until four o'clock, then it was time to head to the diner. They ordered their usual and took some pictures while they sillied around, enjoying their meals and simply having fun amongst themselves. Rakeem could always say that there was never a single dull moment as her father. After they cleaned off in the diner rest room and headed off to play street.

"Are you ready!" Rakeem picked
his baby girl up and carried her on his shoulders into the museum by five o'clock.

"Yes!!" she clapped her hands as they walked into the museum, as bubbly as they could be.
They quickly paid in and began to play.
They played with trucks, play kitchens, play hotels and Laila interacted with many toddlers near her age.

They were walking over to a new play station until Rakeem looked back to see if anything was behind them until he froze, he saw a familiar face. a very familiar face, he looked down at Laila, and back up at the familiar face, she was nearly identical almost as if she was a complete carbon copy to the familiar face. He held in his growing frustration and pulled Laila closer as he shook his head while mumbling a single line.

"Ah shit."