SAME TIME, SAME DAY
• M A L I K •
"What?" My mama spoke aloud, but I couldn't even pick my head up.
"D-Daddy, I'm sorry," I hear Madison start crying.
I can't be mad at her. I just can't. She's just a little girl, plus she's mine.
"Say that again, Madison. Your daddy what?" My mama spoke up.
"I'm s-sorry, Daddy," she continued crying.
"It's okay, Ladybug. Stop cryin'," I said with my head still down.
I gripped the sides of my chair, trying my best to calm myself down.
"Madison Taylor. I asked you a question!" she raised her voice.
"Mama, please—"
"Madison, repeat what you jus told me, baby,"
"Mama—" she cut me off as Madison was still crying.
"MADISON!" she yelled, making Madison jump.
"You scarin' her, Mama, stop it. Ladybug go upstairs,"
"No, you shut the fuck up," she pointed to me not even looking. "And you stay RIGHT here n tell me what you jus told me Madison!"
She looked between us, her eyes wet. She was so confused. "Mama, you scarin' her, please. Madison go upstairs—"
"NO! YOU STAY RIGHT HERE!" she jumped again as tears escaped her eyes.
"YOU FUCKIN' SCARIN' HER—STOP! Go upstairs Ladybug,"
"YOU LISTEN TA ME, LITTLE GIRL—"
"NO, I'M YO FUCKIN' DADDY!" I yelled instantly regretting it seeing her scared and confused. "I'm sorry, baby, c'mere," I felt my eyes gloss over. She ran to me and I hugged her seeing my mama out the corner of my eye.
I can't even describe the feeling that her expression evoked.
"I'm sorry, Daddy," she cried in my chest.
"It's okay, now go upstairs, so me and ya Granny can talk, please,"
"I'm sorry," she said again as she ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
I then watched as my mama stood up. She couldn't even look at me. I just sat there feeling like a kid again.
I feel worse though. Worse than those phone calls in jail. Worse than the look she gave me when I got sentenced. Worse than all of that.
Then I felt and heard as she slapped me across my face. My head stayed in the same position as I clenched my jaw. I could feel the stinging, for she put all her might into that one, I think I even tasted a little blood.
"Mama," I felt my eyes get blurry with tears as I looked at her.
She then slapped me again. Then she tried again, but I grabbed her wrist. "Get the fuck out of my house,"
