𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑙𝑦.

#33

-D.F

"Leave." I point towards the door the moment my mother opens her eyes. As if realizing what had happened yesterday her eyes widen and start releasing tears. "Those won't work on me, Jen."

"I'm so sorry" she sobs into her hands. I roll my eyes and give her a bored stare. Was she really trying to make this work again? I felt like a cold monster while watching my mother break down.

"You only came back for money, which you didn't get, so leave." I try my best to keep quiet knowing that Spear was still asleep. She shakes her head and continues talking.

"Your father will die if I don't get this money" The look on her face holds fear but I still can't find an ounce of care for her. I continue to shake my head until the doorbell rings. She sighs in relief but little does she know this conversation isn't close to being over.

I walk to the door and give her a stern stare before I open it. She raises her hands showing she's innocent but I can't bother to trust it.

Essence and Emilio stand before me. Essence with a huge smile and Emilio with her usual still stare. My eyes widen in shock, I start to grip the handle from the nerves.

"Hi," Essence says joyfully. I try my best and smile.

"Hi?" I say back confused. Essence looks at Emilio, then looks at me. Emilio doesn't say anything which makes her give me an awkward laugh.

"Who is it?" My mother stands from her drowsy state, she had no time to somewhat clean up yet she was open enough to come to stand next to me to peek in on who was in front. "The guy from the place you work," she pointed at Emilio. His face went from still to hard as he stared at her, I'm not sure if it was hate or pity that showed.

"Worked" I corrected her with a glare. She rolled her eyes and pushed my shoulders back.

"Well don't be rude, invite them in," she smiled and moved me to the side with her which allowed them a space to walk. Not trusting Jen, they both looked at me with reassurance. Simply, I shrugged allowing my lips to form a tight smile.

Essence nudged her head forward telling Emilio to go in first, which he complied without argument. Jen goes straight after Emilio while eyeing him down, I can't help but scoff at her.

"How are you?" Essence asks as she stands next to me while I close the door. I shrug and say the thing I'm so used to saying.

"I'm fine." It almost seemed routine at this point. Essence hummed and sat next to Jen who was now in the middle of the two of them. She couldn't help but include herself.

I stand in front waiting for someone to say something as to why they were there.

"Before you say no hear me out," Essence starts off, I nod and throw glances at my mom who stares Emilio down. He side-eyes her weary of the closeness. I almost laugh at his face. "I know you lost your job, and I know how hard it can be without one, especially since you have a kid."

"She doesn't have a kid," my mother contorts, I'm not sure why she had an issue with me or anyone else stating Spear was mine. Was it a weird territorial thing or was she just in denial that she abandoned him?

"She's practically his mother," Emilio stared at her fully as he says these words. Her face constricts allowing the wrinkles to form around her eyebrows and eyes.

"I'm his mother," she says in a pained tone.

"You're Davina's mother too, I don't see you trying to prove that." Emilio shrugged, his expression wasn't mad as he said these words, he seemed more calm if anything. "What I do see is that you still managed to be a fuck up for each kid. Just now one of them has a parent figure" he pauses and looks her up and down, "No thanks to you."