"Hey Kay" I said in a low tone.
"Wassup Rachii Anne!?" she said in her always perky tone.
(That was her nickname for me)
"Hey can you do me a favor and take Mel to school today"
"Sure i'll be over in a minute!"
I walked into Mel's room and picked out her outfits and knocka balls. I smiled as I touched her warm face and giggled at the way she was positioned.
My baby was a terrible sleeper!
"Mel baby, come on get up" I whispered as I lightly shook her.
Her small eyes slowly opened showing off those precious hazel gray eyes. Sometimes I use to think the hospital gave me the wrong baby, but she was her father's twin and my dad's shadow! She got up and brushed her teeth and washed her face. I got her dressed and combed her hair and we went down stairs for breakfast.
"Mommy, where's daddy" she asked. I hated the fact that she called him daddy but oh well.
"He's already gone to work babe" I answered pouring syrup on her waffle bites.
I tried to wear my bang in my face to cover my severely beaten eye but I knew she had seen it. I was beyond tired of looking like a monster in front of my baby.
"Rachii Anne, Mel B!" Kay screamed as she walked into the kitchen.
"Hey teetee Kay" Mel said with a mouth full of waffles.
"Mel, close you're mouth girl" I chuckled.
"Wassup Rachii a.." Kay froze her sentence and face.
I already knew what she was hitting at. I turned my head and let a tear fall.
"Rachii....baby, when is he gonna stop?" she asked rubbing my back.
"I....i don't know Kay" I answered.
Kay hated Kirk and she had every reason to.
"We're gonna talk about this when I come back" she barked.
I wiped my face and turned around to get Mel's backpack.
"Here you go baby, be good for Ms. Neal today okay!" I said kissing her cheek.
"Ok mommy bye bye" she waved.
"Seatbelt first little lady and Kay put her in that car seat! she isn't 10!" I yelled from the door.
Mel was in a private school basically a over priced head start but it was Kirk who demanded that's where she would go and Kirk that paid!
I slipped upstairs into my bathroom and examined my bruised body. I was a mess and didn't even find myself attractive anymore. I wasn't a creation from God, I was a creation from Kirk. He changed my complete look. I raised my bang and looked at my eye, it was completely closed shut.
"Damn" I cried.
I turned away and turned the shower on and stepped in. The extremely hot water stung up against my tender skin but I was use to it and it kinda felt good. I placed myself up against the wall and just let the water fall on me.
I stayed in that position until I felt numb. Startled by Kay walking in the house, I jumped out and grabbed my robe.
I went to the stairwell and told Kay to come up.
She walked in the room as I began putting on lotion.
"What happened Roc?" she asked sitting on the bed.
"I came home later than usual, I just went to the mall to get Mel some shoes" I answered pathetically.
"Really, I hate that mfka!" she yelled.
"Me too" I said getting dressed
"Well why do you stay Rachii! Look at your face and Mel, what about Melanie, she shouldn't have to see you looking like this!"
"Kay, I'm trying! I'm just not financially stable right now"
"Girl swallow some if that pride and ask Mel's father for help, you know he got it!"
"You know I will never ask him for anything, he wouldn't have time for her anyway!" I snapped.
"You don't know that Rachii! He isn't like that!" she said.
"I'm good. I got us" I said pulling my hair up in a bun.
"Whatever, just do something before its too late!" Kay said.
I got finished getting ready for work and headed towards the door.
"What are you gonna do about your face?" Kay asked
"Oh yeah" I said running back to get those plastic shades the eye doctor gives you after you have your eyes dilated.
"These" I said .
"A damn shame" Kay said rolling her eyes.
We made it to the door I locked it and walked towards my truck.
"Be safe, love you Rachii Anne" Kay said with a hug and kiss. "I'll get Mel B when I get off".
"Thanks, love you more!" I replied.
I got in, started my truck and began to drive off. I looked at Melanie's picture in my dash and thought about what Kay said about asking her father.
I sighed and continued to drive.
