𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

UNITED BRIDGES.

Dec, 21. Saturday, 8pm.

"I finally finished Echoes of Silence and I'd like you all to hear it. Thank you for joining me, and even forgiving me for dragging you into this mess. Here's the new masterpiece I've made out of this journey."

The door opened and shut, snatching everybody's attention from the subject. Aphrodite came around the corner with his mom. "Hey Abel," he said while his mom waved at me.

I was still pissed at him, but now probably isn't the time to get hostile or brush anybody off. Everybody has been enjoying themselves all day long. Christmas is coming up, I'll just let it all go. We've all been through enough. "Hey, we're 'bout to listen to my new mixtape. Help yourselves to somethin' to eat, drink, and enjoy."

After listening to everything we finally began talking amongst ourselves. Toni and I went outside with my father for a smoke break. "So what happened to Jane," I ask out of curiosity.

"Been thinkin' 'bout everything you said. I called everything off and broke up with her. Turns out she was with some other dude at the club who had been calling her phone trying to get to her."

"Glad that's over. I was sick of her ass."

Everything went back to silence just the bitter cold nipping at our fingers until it was broken again. "You guys look just alike," Toni said, passing the blunt back to my father.

"No shit he's my son." He laughed, giving his shoulder a playful but firm pat. "I'm fucking with you. All you lil youngin's my family whether you like it or not. So don't you two go fallin' out over no dumb shit you hear me?"

"Right." I took a drag. "Might want to make room for two more." The door opened, a familiar face stepped out. Speaking of the devil herself. "Lisa, don't start." She gave me a look 'cause she could tell the man who is my spitting image is my father.

"I've heard a lot about this one." He chuckles. "Your mother used to go on and on about you and Lisa. She thought that girl was gon' end up pregnant the way ya'll was fuckin'" They both erupted into a raging fit of laughter, smacking each other's arms, and struggling to catch their breath.

That shit ain't that funny. Lisa and I both awkwardly stood there waiting for them to finish. Her face flushed deep red with a smirk slowly forming. I don't think she minded it so much. She knew she was wild. "I'ma head back inside."

Toni held onto my shoulder. "No, wait-" he continued to laugh. "Holy crap. Okay, We're done."

"You sure?"

"Maybe." His cheeks puffed up as if trying to contain an explosion that he just couldn't withhold much longer.

"Relax. Go walk it off," my dad told him. "Don't take it to heart, the boy is clearly on cloud nine. He lightweight." I decided to go inside anyway to check on everybody else and warm up. The cold was seeping into my puffer anyway.

The later it got the more people started to subtly leave. I just thank god they didn't leave the place a mess. There were a few things to pick up, trash to take out, but nothing I couldn't get done tonight. It was just me, Makkonen, Toni, Henny, and Lai. I'm surprised she's even been here for this long.

Lai approached me. "The mixtape is amazing. I'd love to hear Next live," she said as we made our way towards the couch. "It's getting pretty late, I enjoyed this. I'll be in Haiti with my family for Christmas but afterwards maybe we can make plans? Hangout?"

"For sho'. Be safe on your way home and on your flight." My dad was glued to his phone seated in a chair behind Lai, but seemed to be listening all along. He gave a thumbs up, but I couldn't directly look over at him. "Let me walk you. It's dark."

Making our way to the front, I opened the door, she went out first of course, and I walked her out to the car. The darkness swallowed everything. "Now just because I'm not here doesn't mean don't call me. I better hear from you on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day." Her heels clicked against the concrete filling the brief silence.

"Got it." I'm bad with remembering to call people, but the way she be on my mind I don't think that'll be the problem.

Feeling all over the car I struggled to find the handle. At some point I found it.. Before she slid inside she kissed me on the cheek. "Goodnight Abel."

"Goodnight Lai'Yomae." With a slight jog I stood on the sidewalk watching her slowly become engulfed in the night's nothingness.

Back inside Makkonen was talking with Toni and Henny. "Abel, you know I'll be back in NewYork til' my probation is up, but in a couple months when I'm freed from this shit I'ma come see you and so will your mother."

"Okay."

He yanked me into his arms. "Bring it in weirdos." Toni and Henny both joined in on the group hug. Shit was a little weird considering the fact I don't hug people this often. "We all family, I don't give a damn what no paper says."

It felt good to know there was somebody to love my mom. Somebody who actually loved her. It's something Antonio and I both needed to hear.