|Fatima's place|
Fatima, her mother, her niece and sister have all just come back from their dinner date. Dee was seated on the sofa with Nyla asleep in her arms.
Toya: Tima we're about to leave, are you sure you're not coming with us?
Fatima: (sighs) mommy for the 100th time, yes I'm sure. Besides, I can't just up and leave without informing Zac.
Toya: (folds her arms) so he lives here now?
Fatima: (hesitant) yes...no.
Toya: which one is it?
Fatima: he has his own place but he's been staying with me for some weeks because I can't really do much due to my injury.
Toya: -silent- (nods).
Fatima: are you mad at me? I mean it's technically not cohabitation.
Toya: I'm not mad Tima, if anything I'm glad that you're with someone who cares about your wellbeing. Don't tell him this, but I think I'm starting to like this Zachary Taylor.
Fatima: (smiles) you have no idea how much it means to hear you say that! (Hugs her) thank you mommy, I love you.
Toya: (hugs her back) I love you too babygirl.
Dee: (smiles) aww aren't y'all cute! Well since we've established that Tima is staying can we please get going, I have to practice my lines after putting Nyla to bed.
Toya: (chuckles) okay Dee go start up the car I'll be right there. Matter fact you should drive, my feet kinda hurt.
Dee: (grabs the keys) okay cool and please don't be too long. Me and Nyla will wait in the car. *She leaves*
Fatima: (weird look) why did you stay behind?
Toya: because I have one more thing I want to say.
Fatima: okay...?
Toya: baby don't ask me how I know this, I just do.
Fatima: what are you talk-
Toya: shhh, let me finish. Tima I know that Zac is your first so I just want you to be careful of moving too fast. I know that you love him as does he, but baby sometimes love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship.
Fatima: I'm not sure I follow, what are you getting at.
Toya: (sighs) all I'm saying is please don't let him get away with certain things just because you love him and he's all you're used to. I raised you to be a strong black woman who doesn't have to depend on a man, so if ever you feel disrespected/ unworthy in this relationship... promise me that you'll put yourself first. There are plenty of fish in the sea so you don't have to endure bullshit from no man just because he's all you know.
Fatima: (unsure) I hear you mommy and I promise you that I will. But uhm... where is this coming from all of a sudden?
Toya: let me tell you a short story... I lost my virginity when I was 17 to a boy who I thought was gonna be my first and my only. But then I made the mistake of getting too comfortable. Long story short, he took advantage of that and played with my heart, and like a fool I let him. Because I didn't know that the world had so much more to offer me... that was until my freshman year in college.
Fatima: is that when you met daddy?
Toya: yes. Look baby I know that what I'm saying might be confusing right now but I know that it will make sense to you one day.
Toya hugged Fatima goodbye before leaving out. Fatima locked up and then went to take a shower. She decided to brush off her mother's sentiments because she was still failing to see correlation between Toya's past relationship and her present one with Zac.
