𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛

𝑆𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑙𝑒 𝑈𝑝

𝐵𝑒𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒́

"Momma, please..." I huffed, setting down another stack of hay next to Ace's stall as he peered his head out to eat some. My mother stood by Misty, brushing her hair and feeding her some carrots. Bothering me as well. "What happened at church was none of your concern."

"Did you see the way that girl was dressed, and her friends too, 'ought to be ashamed of themselves enterin' the house of God like that. Don't fool with that heathen of a woman, Giselle." She tried to warn me, but I wasn't listening.

"Momma–"

"I just don't want you hurt, that's what these girls will do to ya. Make you feel all good inside an' then tear you apart. You're a sweetheart Bey, don't turn a fool."

My mother's words go in one ear and right out the other. She was wrong, and I knew deep down that she was but I couldn't quite prove it. At least not at the moment.

"But I knew her, Momma. It's not like she's the only one who told me we were close, even the Reverend mentioned it, and them ladies at the sore. Momma, you lyin' to me and I really don't 'preciate it," annoyance rose in my tone. I watched as her features softened, she glanced away and sighed forcing me to sympathize. "I apologize. I know you just wanna protect me, but I gotta learn on my own." I told her.

I knew my mother like the back of my hand. She hovered, but I knew it was because she cared. That unfortunately caused me to be so sheltered that I didn't learn much of what others had to offer.

So to know that at some point there was someone in my life that was nothing like the people I grew up around, that we spent time together, that we were close... it made me curious as to how that was possible... especially when I have a mother like mine.

"I don't want her to hurt you." She patted Misty's head before making her way over to me. "Do me a favor and watch yourself around her and her lil friends. Ain't nothin' good 'bout them city girls. Nothin'." She placed her hands on my cheek then kissed my head.

I frowned slightly, but she ignored it and walked off. Leaning against the door of Ace's stall, I blew out a breath. She wasn't telling me the truth, I knew that much. "What should I do, boy?" I asked him, raking my fingers through his mane. "I wanna listen to Momma, but I feel like I shouldn't. Should I go see that girl or what?"

Ace huffed, neighing right after as if to talk back to me. With a smile, I patted his head then left the stables.

I needed to know why exactly my mother was lying to me, why everything she said seemed to have some hidden truth behind it. I was becoming impatient, tired of hearing the same thing over and over.