Too Good

Chapter 24

Imani's P.O.V.

I groan and moan as I toss and turn in my bed. This past week has been terrible. I've been through hell with these withdrawals. I just can't wait for it to end. I don't know how much more I can take. I wanna use again so bad but I have to get clean.
I need it for my family, for my career, and for my health.
I picked up the landline that was connected to my room and dial my mom's number.

"Mom."

"Imani? Baby, how are you?"

"Not good. I need to go home. It hurts mom, I can't do this anymore!" I pleaded with her

"Imani you can't you have to stay and finish the program." I could hear that she was crying.

"Please mommy just let me come home!" I begged and cried.

"Imani! I need you to stop! This is really affecting your mother and I need you to be strong for her. She is breaking seeing and hearing you like this!" Aubrey said as he took the phone from her.

"I'm sorry, I just ca-"

"Please Imani just try to be strong for her. We'll be there to visit you as soon as we can. We love you and we know you can get through this!" He said.

Shortly after, we got off the phone and my lunch was brought to my room. If it's one thing about this place, the food is delicious! I can't wait until I can actually keep it down for longer than ten minutes.

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Five Days Later

Marcus' P.O.V.

Having a child and abandoning them for 17 years, is something I never thought I was capable of, but I did it. Now that I'm in his life he's falling apart, battling with drug addiction, his career is in a terrible place, and it all feels like my fault. If I was there for him as a kid maybe he wouldn't be going through this. I haven't been able to look at Aaliyah because I feel like she blames me for fucking up our kid. She's an amazing mother and I don't doubt for a second that if I was equally as good as her Imani would be in a much better place.

I feel like I'm being eaten up with guilt but now more than ever I need to be there for my son. So I'm in Arizona with Bully to visit him. I'm going to be the first one to visit him because his mom is having a really difficult time dealing with this and isn't ready to see him like that.  The facility is top-of-the-line. These people are professional and seem to be treating my son really well.

"Bro I can't believe this shit. I thought Imani told me everything!" Bully said as we waited for Imani in the visitation room.

"I know, I just can't believe we didn't see the signs sooner. Now Ryan is gone and I don't know if his career can come back from some shit like this."

Just as I finished talking Imani entered the room and went straight into my arms. I could feel his tears seeping into the fabric of my white t-shirt. I knew this was going to be an emotional visit.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how dangerous it was and I- when I did realize it, I couldn't stop. I didn't mean to scare you, or mom. I was just stuck." He said barely above a whisper.

I held him and said, "It's okay we both love you and want the best for you. We just want you to get clean and learn the tools to stay clean."

"I know. Any word on Ry? Have any of you heard from her?"

"Nothing yet, but don't worry, I'm sure she's fine." He just sighed and wiped his hand down his face.

"How about the news? Did it get out, about the overdose?" He asked.