Yours Truly (Post Malone)

01

I brushed my hair back as I got home from work. Working as a bartender was hard. Lots of long nights and the feeling of not getting enough sleep. I didn't get to put my daughter to bed and I was away from her for long periods of time. She was eight years old so she needed someone to watch her but she was a very responsible kid.

"Mommy!" Winter called out as she came to greet me, her crutches clicking against the hard wood floors.

"Hey, girlie," I said, giving her a side hug. "How was your night?"

"Good," Winter replied. "Auntie Jay watched a movie with me and helped me with my homework."

"Yeah, it wasn't too crazy. Just like most nights."

I looked up to see Jay, my absolute best friend. Jay had been my best friend since we were toddlers and had basically become my sister. Because of how close we were, Jay was Winter's aunt. I was so thankful that Jay was willing to watch my daughter whenever I was working.

Winter shifted on her crutches. "After school, can I go to the park? Ginny and Jordan are going and I've been dying to hang out with them."

"Well, you're still standing so I'll say you're fine," I replied, to which Winter rolled her eyes. "Yeah, go on ahead and do it. But let's get you to school. Jay, thank you for staying the night with her. I know you had places to be besides here."

Jay momentarily wrapped an arm around Winter's shoulders. "It's no problem, really. Anytime spent with my favorite niece is not a moment wasted."

I smiled a little. "Of course not. Do you have everything packed for school?"

Winter nodded. "Yeah. I just need to grab my bag. I'll be back in a second."

Winter disappeared, the sound of her crutches echoing in the hall. She had been born with only one leg. It was a congenital limb defect that caused her to have no left leg. When Winter was born, prosthetics were offered to help her walk but I didn't have the money to pay for one at the time. I was still a bartender and couldn't pay for one. So it was crutches from the moment Winter could walk.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take her to school?" Jay offered. "I'm more than willing to do that."

I shook my head. "No, I can do it. I'm already feeling as if I'm missing enough time with my daughter. I can take her. It's only a train ride away."

Jay nodded, eyeing me. "Okay, if you insist. I'll see you tonight."

"See you tonight."

Winter returned with her stuff. I walked her out the door and we got onto the bus. It was only two bus stops away and there wasn't usually a need to drive my car. Not when it was so close and when it was such a hassle sometimes. I didn't mind the ride though. I got to sit down with Winter and talk about what she was excited about for in the day.

As we rode on the bus, she told me about what she was going to be learning in the different subjects. Science and music were her favorite subjects. I was a musician myself so she had picked up on it at a very young age. Winter already knew how to play piano and trumpet decently for her age. She had recently started playing clarinet as well. The music teacher at her school was very impressed with her skill for her age.

When we got to our stop, I got off with Winter. I walked her to her school, smiling as she talked. Winter was quite the talkative child and always had something to say. Once we got to the front of the school, I hugged her goodbye and watched her go inside the building. Before she went into the school, Winter turned and waved one last time. She looked so cute with her backpack and crutches.

I turned and got onto the next bus. I loved my daughter a lot. She was all that I had. Her father had passed in a car accident when she was two so it was just me and her. Her father was a good man and loved Winter with all of his heart. It was terrible what happened to him. I missed him greatly. I hadn't dated since his passing, too busy trying to raise Winter on my own and working full time as well. It had been rough but we had a routine that worked well.

When I arrived home, I undressed and passed out. I was out with minutes. I usually slept up until Winter got off school. Then I usually picked her up and helped her with homework if she needed it. But at that moment, all I needed was sleep. And it came quickly. It had been a busy night at the bar.