5 years later
Aura
"Mom I can't find my tooth brush." Amiri complained while I straightened my hair in the mirror "what do you mean you can't find your tooth brush."I shook my head putting the straightener on the dresser but it fell and struck my toe nearly burning me.
"Fuck."I semi yelled.
"Mom you said a bad word."Amiri rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry baby let's go find your tooth brush."I said taking his hand and I limped to the bathroom with him.
"Amiri what's this?"I asked taking it out of the sink.
"That's my tooth brush!"he yelled grabbing it with excitement.
"Magic words?"
"Thank you."he said making me smile.
"Hurry up we finna be late."I said before going to the kitchen and making him some waffles.
My phone rang and I looked at the caller id 'Jayven'
"What?" I answered not because I was tryna be rude but because I was super frustrated.
"Girl fuck you too, I wanna know if you picking Amiri up from school today or if I'm posed to do it."
"I'm sorry, I'm just overwhelmed and my hair is half straightened, I still haven't had breakfast as yet."I said putting Syrup on his waffles.
"Nah you straight."he said "you doing great A"
It's been 5 years and Antonio still hadn't came back, he last face timed Amiri a year ago, I'm convinced he formed another family outside of us. He had Jayven make sure that we were good and safe but that was never enough...that didn't stop Amiri from asking endless questions.
"I'll pick him up."I said then I hung up and ran back into the bedroom and finished straightening my hair.
"Amiri."I yelled "get your waffles and let's go you'll eat in the car." I grabbed my car keys.
He did as I told him and we left the house, I helped him into the car.
I pulled out of the parking lot and drove to his school "Amiri eat faster so you can go in."
"Mom."he groaned.
"Okay I'm sorry."I put my hands up in defense.
"You taught me patience, you told me to be tolerant of others even under pressure."he said making me smile.
"I guess I taught you well, did you take your lunch? Is it in your backpack?"
"I forgot."
I face palmed and turned to look at him "so what's the plan? You tell me because everyday we talk about the same thing......you always forget your lunch and we get late."
"Mom you know you can just put it in my bag for me right?"he asked with sarcasm in his tone.
"Don't play with me now, you need to learn to be responsible, I can't chase after you forever."
"To be honest we are always late because you take way too long to get ready."he shrugged.
"Uh no, we are always late because of 1 the traffic and 2 is you never wake up when I tell you to."I said and that? That was straight facts.
"Okay fine I promise to do better."
"Good and don't forget to say please and thank you and you're welcome okay? Be nice but if they come at you-"
"Come back 10× harder yes I know."he said biting into the last waffle.
I looked out the window feeling so drained and tired, everyday was the same struggle, I needed to make money.
Antonio left me with some and he pay for the apartment and bills but everything else was up to me.
His clothes, his food, his extra murals and my own stuff on top of that. I couldn't tell Antonio about it because I didn't want him to think I depended on him.
Practically I could ask him for money and he will give it to me but I didn't wanna be that baby mama.
A sense of pride sometimes is needed.
I got this.
I had to save up the money he gave me and work for some so I could buy a car, how do you move from point A to point B with a kid but without a car.
"Mama are you okay?"he asked snapping me out of my day dream.
"Yes."I smiled"I'll go back home and get your lunch."
"Okay I'm done."he smiled "bye mom."
"Goodbye baby."I smiled back at him.
I drove back to the house and grabbed his lunch off the kitchen counter.
I sat down and kicked off my shoes and called my boss.
"Aura?"
"Hey, I'm gonna be a little late today, I'm so sorry you know my son forgot his lunch I had to go back and get it for him and take it back to school."
"That's okay Ms Simmons, just try to be more punctual because you know the schedule is hectic." He said making me roll my eyes, not because I didn't agree with what he was saying but because there was nothing hectic at work, I literally don't even work like that..all I do is tell him when he has meetings, run his errands and bring him coffee.
"Alright see you just now."I said then I hung up.
I put my shoes back on and looked at myself in the mirror.
I locked the apartment and on the way out of the building I bumped into my neighbour, Tev.
"Hey Aura."he caught up to me.
"Tev, hey."
"Where you going? I mean if you don't mind me asking, I mean you usually leave earlier not that I'm spying on you but I just noticed-"
"Tev relax."I chuckled, I knew he had a thing for me but I wasn't going for him, he's just the hot neighbour that I just wouldn't get involved with mainly because I'm a full time mom as soon as I get home and I didn't wanna bring people around Amiri.
"Well if you must know, I'm going to-"I cut myself when I felt an arm wrap around me.
"A who's this?"Jayven asked "you seeing other people now?"
"Jayven this is my neighbour Tevin."I mumbled "and no we ain't doing nothing nigga."
Tev extended his hand but Jayven just looked at it.
"She's married."Jayven lied straight through his teeth "to my brother so don't be talking to her like that you feel me?"
"Jay I'm not married."I chuckled.
Tev cleared his throat "I guess I'll see you later.".
"Later Tev."I smiled.
"She won't be seeing you later, she's going on a honeymoon."Jayven semi yelled.
"Jayven."I punched his shoulder.
"What? Antonio told me to keep yo ass safe and you out here talking to shady ass niggas."he defended his actions.
"I'm grown, he's not my boyfriend, he's only my baby daddy and he's not even here, he last called a year ago believe me I'm not worried about that man."I half lied.
"He probably has a good reason."Jayven shrugged "it's kinda weird he would ask me to keep an eye on you cause you know we had a little interaction back in the day."
"I wasn't even sober, sober me wouldn't even look at you like that."I rolled my eyes.
"Damn it's like that? But you got to be admit I'm the more fun brother."
"Y'all not even brothers damn."I laughed unlocking my car "goodbye."
"Later."
