Night Before the Swing

Reality sets it

CHAPTER 22

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Nala missed Warren more than she thought she would and desperately wanted to make up with him. She failed to understand why he wasn't calling to at least check on his daughter. Warren loves Narrel and he loved Nala too not too long ago so his changed behavior caused Nala to worry about the possibility of another woman. Even Mr. and Mrs. Forest used to check up on their granddaughter at least once in two days but they hadn't now in almost two weeks.

Finding a place for Nala wasn't easy because she refused to live on campus with her child so Long had to pay extra to make people cooperative. Nala felt bad but Long said he'll do anything to make sure she's comfortable. Long and Gwen found a two-bedroom apartment where Christian once wanted to buy Nala her own place. It's beautiful but not as much as Danver apartments. It's about eight kilometers away from the university which was not a problem because Nala owned a car.

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The flat was very clean but Gwen mopped it with clean water and bleach while Long and Tyler went to buy supper. The bed and fridge were delivered before they arrived and the couches would be arriving the following day. The kitchen counter was nicely fitted with four stools and that saved them from sitting on the bed while eating. Long asked Nala why she never bought her own television when she moved to campus three years before. She did when Nandi and Lizzy moved in with her. Warren already had a big screen so she left hers in the apartment she shared with Lizzy and Nandi. "Call Lizzy and tell her you need it now" Long instructed and Nala did just that. Lizzy didn't answer so Long dialed the same number on his cellphone and this time the call was accepted. Long didn't say anything either than verifying it was the correct person on the other end. When he got the answer he needed he passed the phone to Nala who didn't feel like walking on egg shells because of Lizzy any more. Without trying to sound nice, Nala told Lizzy she needed to come collect her TV and asked what time on Monday she should come. "Before class at 8am". "See you then", Nala said before cutting the call. For the first time since they became friends, Nala felt like she didn't have to go above and beyond to make Lizzy comfortable. Lizzy had never done that for her and Nala felt empowered just shifting her mindset from accepting to honest. She thought about how she has had to dim her light so other people around her could feel better about themselves and realised she was fed up of being nice. She was tired of being told what to do and how to act in order to fit in the box that society thinks is her place.

When her parents and baby brother left, she got into bed with her daughter and kept reminding herself that Narrel is all that mattered to her in Ref-Town. Not the Forests or university students who'll be judging her situation soon.

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In the morning, she called Connie and gave her their new address then left as soon as Narrel got excited at seeing her nanny. Lizzy took over five minutes to open the door and when she finally did, she just stood and glowered at Nala like she was expecting her to greet and explain why she was at her door so early. Nala used to do that but she wasn't so tolerant anymore so she simply said, " I hope it's disconnected because I don't have time to waste". It took a second for Nala's new attitude to register in Lizzy's mind but she stepped aside and pointed at it in the sitting area. Nala coiled the electric wire of the TV and carried the light screen out without saying goodbye. Nala expected to feel terrible for how she treated Lizzy but she felt good. She then drove to the grocery store and picked up a few household items and snacks. While she waited in line, Nancy called to say she finally moved in her new place too with the help of Christian. She then invited Nala to visit the following weekend because she wasn't working. Nala promised she'll be there on Saturday and also invited her to her new flat. Nancy asked about Warren and Nala said, "show up and you'll hear all the gossip you need to hear about me and the baby daddy". They laughed and exchanged addresses then hung up.