Independence

nine'

Kamari Malachi Bryant
(Toota)
16
February 2023
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"Baby what's wrong" I asked plopping down on my bed watching as Ari walked into my room looking out of it. She sent me a text earlier asking if she can come over cause she needed to tell me something.

She sat down next to me and I was confused when tears started streaming down her face. She looked at me before pulling something out of her hoodie pocket. She held her hand out to me and I looked at her before grabbing whatever was in her hand.

My eyes widened as I looked at the item in my hands. I looked at her and she just started sobbing louder making me sigh. I looked back at my hands in disbelief before pulling her into a hug.

Pregnant +1

I hugged her and rubbed her back waiting for her to calm down so that we could talk about it. We're both 16 and being pregnant right now is not what we had planned out for our future. We knew what we were doing and now we have to deal with the consequences.

"I'm one month pregnant. My mom made me take a test cause I've been throwing up this whole week" she sniffed wiping her eyes before laying in my lap as my hands instinctively found their way to her scalp massaging it.

"What did she say" I asked while massaging her head. She shook her head in no particular way before answering.

"She was disappointed and mad at first but said she'll help us cause she's not about to kick me out just cause of a mistake we made" she mumbled making me nod my head.

"Ight we gone make it work ight. We had unprotected sex knowing what it could lead to and I know we're young, we're only 16 but I'm gone take care of you and my baby regardless ight" I spoke and she nodded before looking up at me and smiling small. She puckered her lips making me lean down at kiss them.

"Thank you Mari" She closed her eyes once we pulled away probably about to go to sleep. I dont know how I'm gone tell my mama this and I ain't gone lie, I'm lowkey scared and nervous but I'm excited to be a dad too.

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I woke up looking to my left to see Ari still knocked out. I got out of bed before going to my bathroom to piss and do my hygiene. When I was done I walked downstairs instantly smelling food making my stomach growl.

"Hey ma" I walked into the kitchen kissing her cheek before opening the fridgerator to grab a CapriSun. I looked to see what she was cooking and she was making sum steak with asparagus and mash potatoes.

"Hi son son. You alright" she asked making me nod my head and sit at the island watching as she cooked. If it's one thing about her, she can throw down in the kitchen that's one thing fasho.

"How's school going, you're still okay? your grades looking good?" she asked looking at me. One thing I like and appreciate about her is the fact that she took me in and treated me like I came from her womb cause she didn't have to but she did.

We always have talks like this where she'd do a mental check-in on me and see where my head is at or she'll ask about school and how my grades are looking. I feel comfortable talking to her about anything cause she doesn't judge me and she creates a safe space for me to express my feelings.

I'll forever thank God and be grateful for sending me her way cause I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for her. She's my mother even though she didn't birth me, I could care less about my egg donor. This is my real mom and this is where home is.