Sky and Kadeem : A Hood Love Story

Loneliness

After my mother passed away, they put me and my siblings in foster care. I was angry - not just at the world, but even more so at Dre. He had died a couple of days before my mom, and if only I hadn't forced her to look towards that warehouse...maybe she would still be here. Cynsere ran away with his girlfriend, and stayed hidden for years; he was already seventeen at the time our mother died, so no one bothered to search for him. Classyc and Rayne were adopted by a wealthy African-American family from St Louis, while I was placed into a group home for single teenage mothers..When I was fourteen, I had Tyhir. After graduating high school, we moved in together in a small apartment in Manhattan. Kani, Tyhir's father, watches him while I work nights at the strip club on weekends. We weren't compatible and never even thought about being together. Even so, he is a good dad and I appreciate that.. At age 19, I was beginning to take on more of my mother's features: black hair and slanted green eyes that got me noticed the most. I may have been physically similar to her but my personality couldn't be more different: I'm quiet and sensitive and not built for the world she got mixed up with. While living in the group home, I met a boy named Kadeem who had an equally daunting background. His mom had gone from being a singer to a crack addict while his father reigned over city of Chicago; he was behind bars for armed robbery. Kadeem was convicted of robbery when he was 10 and had been hustling since he was 12 until 16. He always looked out for me, no matter what. We'd sneak out together and meet at the park to plan our lives,smoke weed and chill but one day an fight resulted in Kadeem stabbing his roommate15 times. After this, Kadeem was sent upstate for attempted murder and I never heard from him again. I often think about him; he was my closest friend and partner. That night, I sat in the dressing room putting my makeup on and fixing my hair while Tina handed me a bottle of Coke. It was two o'clock in the morning on a Saturday and I couldn't wait to get home to bed.

"You okay girl? You've been quiet all night."

"My mothers death anniversary is tomorrow . You know how I get around this time."I said standing up and putting my coat on. Tina was older than me but we became really cool. Always cracking jokes, hanging out shit like that . She was grimy too. The shit i've seen her do to most of the girls in here i pray she never tries to do that shit with me.

I know exactly how you feel, girl. But you have to get up and keep going. She wouldn't want you moping around," Tina said with a reassuring smile as she hugged me tightly. I paid my boss his cut then made my way home. The club was only a few blocks away from where I lived, but it was late, and the night had descended. But I wasn't afraid; after all, I'd spent countless nights sleeping in nearby parks when I ran away from the group home years ago. I knew the darkness, and what it held. As soon as I unlocked my front door and stepped inside, a sense of relief enveloped me.