Anytime, Anywhere For You

1.Unspoken Feelings

I look up at the night sky, as I stand on the beautiful beach. I fiddle with the necklace on my neck, as I gaze up at the stars. I take a deep breath and sigh, as I remember the many nights out here.

I've ran up and down this beach with Jey, Jimmy and their cousin Roman, many times as a kid. We used to bury Rikishi in the sand and run from the waves, giggling and laughing in our excitement.

When my mom left, I used to wait out here for her to come back, only to realize one day that she'll never come back.

Now, with her loss weighing down on me... memories come flooding back to me. The last image I can remember of my mother was her smiling, as she told me she's going out to buy my favorite food. A Monte Cristo...

She dropped me off at Rikishi's and I waited all day for her, Until Rikishi told me I'd be staying with them for awhile.

Awhile turned permanent and I felt sad. I wondered why she left. Did I do anything to make her leave me? Why did my mom not love me anymore?

Now, after her passing, I finally found the strength to forgive her. She never came back for me and I hated her for it. But, I found a new family in the Fatus. It extended to the Anoa'i family as well and I never felt alone or unloved.

I wipe my tears from my face and sigh.

"It's late Niyah. Why are you out here alone?" Jey asks. I turn to him and see him carrying a blanket.

"Just thinking... Did I worry you?" I ask.

Jey wraps the blanket around my shoulders and pulls me towards him.

"You already know the answer to that question." He says.

I nod and lean against him. Jey wraps his arms around me and I relax for the first time today.

"Let's go inside, before you catch a cold." He says and I nod.

I let Jey lead me inside his beach house. I go to sit on the couch and cross my legs underneath me.

"You hungry? Dad made your favorite, before he left." He says and I smile.

"I could eat." I smile and Jey chuckles.

"Of course you can, Big head." He leaves and I smile.

A few minutes go by and Jey brings back a plate of food.

"I would've gotten it." I smile and he shrugs.

"It's fine." He says, as he sits down beside me.

I grab the Monte Cristo and bite into it. I hum in appreciation and dip it into the sweet raspberry sauce. I take another bite and look at Jey, who's smiling at me.

"What?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"I'm just glad to see you eating again."

I frown. "I've been eating! Just not as much as I used to..."

"If applesauce and graham crackers are a meal, then I must be crazy." He says and I sigh.

"I know...I just... I haven't thought of my mom since we were kids and all of a sudden my grandpa who never bothered to meet me or come get me calls to tell me my mom died...I was just in shock. I didn't have an appetite."

"I never thought I'd ever see or hear from her ever again. But, I secretly hoped she'd come back. If not to get me, to tell me why she left...I don't even know who my dad is.." I chuckle.

"I don't even know if he's alive...Because, how could you just leave your kid? Am I that unimportant? Am I that insignificant to them?" Tears fall from my eyes and Jey takes my food from me.