𝖫 𝖤 𝖬 • 𝖮 • 𝖭 𝖠 𝖣 𝖤

X: Freedom

(this chapter goes back and forth between past and present as an fyi)

hope :

"The nail technician pushed my cuticles back ... turns my hand over, stretches the skin on my palm and says, "I see your daughters and their daughters." That night in a dream, the first girl emerges from a slit in my stomach. The scar heals into a smile. The man I love pulls the stitches out with his fingernails. We leave black sutures curling on the side of the bath. I wake as the second girl crawls headfirst up my throat, a flower blossoming out of the hole in my face."

_ _ _

1 Year Ago

"Tay, baby hurry up before we late." Chris yelled throughout their hotel suite rushing his wife who swore she wasn't going to be late tonight but indeed was taking longer than usual.

"Wait! This one or this one. Prada or Versace?" Tayla held up two different heels causing Chris to sigh and smirk while taking a seat on the arm of the couch.

"They both fine-"

"Okay, but this one takes attention from the dress while this one is more like an accessory and you won't notice it until you actually check me out."

"Well, no niggas need to be checking you out tonight besides me so put on the one that outshines the dress." Tayla scrunched her face up and shook her head.

"Mm, no. I'm putting on this one." She chose the one he decided against making him chuckle.

"So what was the point of asking?"

"So you could help me but I see you no use." She rolled her eyes playfully making him chuckle and stand up checking his watch on his wrist.

"Blah, blah, blah, come on for real, bae. If I'm even a minute late, we fighting." He said and she smiled innocently at him while walking out the bedroom part of their suite and to the living area where he was waiting for her. Tayla wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him still smiling because she knew "fighting" was code for something else.

"Promise?"

"...You dangerous. Let's go so we can come back and I can handle my business." He smirked grabbing her hand and their room key, exiting their suite and making their way down to the lobby where the Escalade was outside waiting over twenty minutes for them already.

Chris helped Tayla inside due to her dress and heels before getting in himself and sitting down next to her while their driver took them to the event they were scheduled to be at.

"Why don't you get into art more?" She questioned and he sighed grabbing her hand and placed a few kisses on the back of it before dropping it and resting his hand on her exposed thigh that was resting over his. "I know how much you love it."

"Mm... I've been thinking but you know how much I love music and shit. I'd lose it if I'm not surrounded by my passion, so that's what shit like tonight makes it easier for me to indulge in it if it's not me taking a break and painting myself."

"I wish you got into it more. You're so talented," She complimented and he smiled at her.

"Thank you, baby." He leaned over and gave her a kiss before sitting back in his original position, "We should buy a house down here," He said changing the subject.

"Miami such a random place to buy a house, don't you think?"

"Shit, we down here at least three times a year. Why not have a little vacation home and shit?"