5 years later
Time flies by when you are having except I wasn't but it still flew. Blue was in her last year of high school and seeing how excited she was for varsity brought tears to my eyes.
As if fate was mocking me, my PA called letting me know I had a visitor who preferred not to say. There was a slight knock on the door, “come in” I had yet to look up but I could recognize that voice anywhere ‘Hi…” was all she said, “what are you doing here?” it was my turn to ask. “I’m probably the last person you want to see…” she said, while approaching my desk. I held up my hand to stop her from talking as I called Yolanda my PA to cancel my schedule for the entire day.
I packed my things and grabbed Onika's wrist dragging her to the parking lot. She had some nerve coming here after all these years. “Get in” without hesitation, she got in, I drove to my place. "How dare you show up at my work like that?!” I yelled at her, I was livid. I saw tears
foaming in her eyes, and I was not moved. It’s scary how love can turn into hatred. Did I hate her? no but wanted nothing to do with her. She stood there not a word uttered, what did she want. “It was wrong of me to come here” yeah no shit. I organized an uber for her, and she left just like that.
While in my study I got a call from an unknown number, I checked the time and it was around 11pm. Who could it be, I answered it anyway. “Ma, it’s me Rumi” I could feel the air getting
sucked out of my lungs. “Rumi, hi…” I was at loss for words. “Mom is not back home, she left since morning to go see you and is not answering her phone, is she still there?” okay that got me worried? I told her to send me her mom’s numbers and stay put. I tried calling Onika, but calls went straight to voicemail.
I left the house still in my night wear, Blue was at a sleepover. I drove straight to Onika’s place, with the location I got from Rumi. She opened the door for me and was met with a grown young lady. It hit me that it’s been 5 years. “Where’s Papa?” I
asked as I sat on the couch. “She…” her voice got shaky and I quickly got up to embrace her. “shh… I’m here” I held her tightly, she finally told me that Papa is at the hospital and has been in and out the hospital since me and her mom broke up. She had no idea what was wrong with him and her mom wouldn’t tell her.
I wanted to drive straight to the hospital this instant, but Rumi needed me and we still couldn't reach Onika, but part of me felt like she was at the hospital. It was late “let’s get you to bed” Rumi protested, she was falling asleep in my arms and so I let her.
When I was certain she was asleep,
I broke down silently. After a while I heard keys shuffling in the kitchen and after a few seconds Onika came to living room and switched on the light. She was shocked to see me, she looked down to Rumi as if to wake her up
and I said no, let her be. “I’ll be in my room” she whispered and left.
Saturday morning came quickly, Rumi was holding onto me tightly, gosh it hurt to think what she is going through. I got up from the couch after a bit of a struggle and went to what I believe was Onika’s room.
I knocked slightly and got no answer, she was probably still asleep. The door was half open so I went in. I took in the sight of her, she had lost weight and had bags under her eyes. She had on clothes from yesterday, as if sensing my presence, she woke up. It broke me to see the look in her eyes and what she said next. “Sorry for bothering you yesterday, it will never
happen again. As for Rumi, I’ll talk to her. You should go before she wakes up” should I go and forget everything I just witnessed or stay. “okay…” I left.
Blue came around 6pm and immediately could sense that something was wrong. “Ma…what’s
wrong?” she sat on the edge on my bed, Onika was a sour topic. She wanted nothing to do with her, so I know not to bring her up. “Nothing just work stress, how was your sleepover?” I deflected, “was great but missed you” I laughed, “of course you did” she left my room.
After giving it much thought, I called Rumi. Her mom and I may not be on the right terms but she doesn’t deserve any of this. “what are you doing tomorrow?” I asked her with the plan to take her out. I wanted to rebuild our relationship. If it meant fighting with her mom, so be it. “Nothing” great I thought “I’ll fetch you tomorrow morning, I’ll talk to your mom so don’t worry”. Blue wanted to go out as well ‘house is boring’ she mentioned. She had no idea where we were going or who we were meeting. I just hoped it will not turn into a fight once we got there.
Upon knocking Rumi answered
the door quickly, Blue was shocked and said hi, Rumi embraced her in a hug and the sight was both beautiful and heartbreaking. Once in, Rumi called her mom. Who was just as shocked.
“I’m here to fetch Rumi and take her out” I said as we all made our way to the living room. Onika looked at me like I spoke a different language. “Hi Blue…” she greeted gently and in return was met with silence. “Ma, I’ll wait in the car” Blue left abruptly. Onika looked down in shame, how did we get here? “you can go Rumi and remember you have school tomorrow” with that being said she left the room. I looked at Rumi and said ‘let’s go’.
We settled in watching a movie and the drive to the mall was silent neither girls wanted to talk,
‘teenagers’ I thought. I couldn’t even focus on the movie, my mind kept going from Papa and Onika.
After the movie we went to get food, while waiting for our orders I spoke up. “Girls I know what is happening right now is probably confusing, I ask that you be patient as Onika and I fix things” Blue spoke up first, “are you together again?’ she asked “no, Papa is sick and is our main focus” I didn’t want to say more than that.
I dropped off Rumi and drove home. Blue was livid, she banged the car door and headed straight to her room. I followed her quickly, “Blue Knowles!” I yelled and reached her room. “I get it, you were hurt, so is Rumi and everyone else okay, but Papa is sick and needs all of us. So I’m going need you to do better okay?” I left her after that.
I settled in bed and got a text from none other than Onika.
Onika- thank you for taking Rumi out, she seems to be in a better mood.
Part of me wanted to move on, but I just couldn’t.
Me- maybe if you had let me stay in the kids’ lives, things would be different. You disregarded my feelings and the kids’, because of your selfishness we are all hurting. Blue and I had been doing fine these past years and now everything is back to when you left. I really want to put it
behind me, it’s hard. Rumi is going through a lot and you seem focused on Papa to notice. But you know what hurts me the most? Its Papa, I should had been there for him.
Onika- I’m sorry Beyonce…
I left her at read, I went to bed with a heavy heart.
