Attractions: Book 2

2

The Grizzlies were good this year.

If anything in Ja and Malia's life was going well, it was basketball. It provided Ja a peace of mind to know that the Grizzlies sat atop the West for the first time in however long.

Last season when he returned from suspension, Ja suffered a season ending injury that fractured Memphis into factions. The Grizzlies tried not to crack under the pressure of their star point guard going down but alas, they broke down like fractions.

It was good for Malia because now, if basketball at all was tied to his drinking, Ja didn't have a reason to drink because of it.

The new look Grizzlies were unfamiliar compared to his old squad. It was just he and Jaren now and they tended to do their own thing.

Desmond was in Milwaukee coming off the bench. Steve and Tyus were gone. Kenny Lofton was gone. So, now, Ja and Jaren carried a lot of the work load and regardless of how much better they were, Ja missed the bond he'd had with Trip.

"You comin' to the game later?"

Malia stared straight ahead, looking as if she was lost in thought. She hadn't said much the entire car ride and was moving very sluggishly. Ja didn't say much because they didn't get to sleep 'til really late last night.

"Mama." Ja glanced away from the road, seeing how stoic and emotionless she appeared.

She blinked, looking over at him. "I'm sorry. Just tired. What did you say, babe?"

"I asked if you was comin' ta' the game later on."

"Of course." Malia said, yawning. "After this appointment, I'll probably take a nap and then I'll be good by the time the game starts."

Malia, who once went to almost every Grizzlies game, hadn't been to any as of late. She applauded from the walls of her apartment and made sure to send her congratulations to Ja each time.

It didn't bother him too much because at one point, Ja didn't know Malia and she didn't know him. So, he was used to his cheering section being just his parents and his daughter.

"Aight." Ja linked their hands together, finding comfort in her light squeeze. "They still got you on that medicine?"

Malia shook her head. "Not anymore."

No part of what she said was even partially true.

What Ja and Malia both remember the doctor saying about the anti-depressant was that it was highly addictive. It was addicting to the point where they refused to prescribe it to anyone that had history of drug abuse.

And of course Malia thought that it would never, ever be her. She still in her mind and soul did not think that it was her.

The agreement she made with her doctor was that she would let them know when she felt ready to get off of them. Malia just didn't feel like she was ready. She didn't know when she would be ready. Malia didn't know if she would ever be ready.

"That's good." Ja said.

"Yeah."

Mali's sluggishly walked into her appointment, glad that Ja had agreed to wait in the car. She didn't like for him to come to her appointments. There were reasons for that, obviously.

"You seem to be doing well." The doctor looked over her papers. "How's the medication?"

Malia forced a smile, hoping he wouldn't notice the fatigue. "It's not as bad as it was before. It's helping."

"Need anything stronger or weaker?"

She thought of her parents, knowing that if she got anything stronger that she'd be just like them.