dallas, texas. 2pm / 13 years earlier. 𝟹𝚁𝙳 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽.
court will now recess for 30 minutes.
all rise. court will reconvene in 30 minutes.
everyone took to their feet as the judge left. kiesha walked out the courtroom immediately after anxious to hear the verdict they waited for, for 8 months.
the courthouse made her feel suffocated, she took to the stairs outside. sitting directly in the middle of the grand white stairs.
"god please, khiya needs her dad. i need her dad. please hear my cries. i know sometimes my mind is too weak to pray, but i know you listen to my heart. god i need you. i know those who squint have obscure vision, i ask you to fill my mind and help me through this time. please show me whats next and lead me."
Kiesha went through the most difficult period of her life during those eight months, yet she was unable to cry in front of Khiya.
𝙺𝙷𝙸𝚈𝙰'𝚂 𝙿𝙾𝚅.
"can i go to the bathroom ms.ferch? its an emergency." khiya said to her teacher.
tell him by lauryn hill played as the young children did their work.
"of course khyia, please take the pass with you."
khiya got up and walked towards the pass grabbing it swiftly. but she wasn't going to use the bathroom, she wanted to see her dad's sentencing.
khiya's mother kiesha prohibited khiya from coming to the court, she believed khiya was too young and it would take a huge toll on her mental, which only kiesha felt she needed to endure. not her innocent baby.
Khiya overheard her mother discussing on the phone that today was the last official court date and he would be receiving his sentence. All the past stresses her mother expressed to her about coming to the trial dissapeared into thin air. Khiya felt she had to support her father and her mother. though her mother didnt know, khiya heard her those sleepless, lonely nights crying to herself; no matter how hard she tried to hide it. she heard her mother ask god to look over them and protect them even when she felt unheard. she heard her mother dilute her prayer requests with fear. Despite khiyas lack of age, she was aware of how this ended each time. she wanted to be there to hold her mother as she always did for her when it did.
"bye mr.jake, have a good day! i have to go see my daddy's sentencing" khiya yelled waving to the security guard, who was a big part of why she was so content and she didnt even know.
"bye khyia baby, be safe! tell me how it goes" mr.jake says pushing the door open for her to ride her bike to the courthouse.
khyia rode her bike two miles to the courthouse. even the route reminded her of her once together family. khiya was so high on adrenaline that she didn't stop at any red lights. She was just interested in seeing her father and had forgotten all traffic laws her father and mother taught her. cars honked, stopped and followed her as she sat up on her pink bike; riding it like it was a bugatti.
upon reaching the courthouse, fear filled her heart. she wanted to stand with her dad and mom outside the universe with no interruptions.
she noticed her mother sobbing while seated on the grand staircase that led inside. her head dug into her hands.
"mom? why are you crying? did i miss it?" khyia said shaking her mom frantically. her mother looked up at her with her hooded red eyes astonished by the sight of khyia. "khyia what the fuck are you doing here? you know you're not supposed to come anywhere near this court room" she said lightly, yet her words were strong. "mom i needed to see, im sorry i disobeyed your rules but my anxiety took over" khyia said cupping her mothers face as she did to her whenever khiya cried.
"khiya, baby... i-" kiesha said breaking out into tears. khiya held her as they rocked back and forth. khyia was familiar with the sounds of the sobs, but not the air of sadness that clouded around the sobs her mother submerged and drowned in. Khiya always thought her mother never cried, even on the worst of days her smile never faded. Khiya always caught herself in her mothers hold instead of the other way around. Khyia now realized it was her mothers first time living as well, and her strength isnt measured by emotion and how she showed instead its measured by what she did with that emotion; her persistence. her ability to know where to go when she was lost.
"i have to go back in, you can sit outside the court. you will not come in khiya. i mean that." kiesha said pointing her finger in khiya's face before grabbing her her small hand to walk inside the court house. though she displayed a firm position on khiya not witnessing the sentencing, she needed her baby right now more than anything to hold her.
"stay here ill be right back out" kiesha said wiping her tears and picking her chin up.
All rise, the court is now is session.
you may be seated.
khiya sat outside fidgeting around, anxiety overcame her body due to the inability to hear what was happening inside the court room.
"jacion malik bribes, you have been found guilty of drug trafficking and i sentence you-"
the large wooden court doors swung open and khiya bursted in. everyone looked back at her, gasping. khiya's eyes grew wide as her dad looked back making eye contact with her. there was no smiles, no wave, nothing. khiya wanted more than anything to wake up from the bad dream crying and hear her dad tell her "dont cry khykhy, my baby dont cry. girls dont cry" like always.
"to 10 years in texas state penitentiary"
As Jacion looked back at his daughter, who was sprinting to pick her mother up again, Kiesha collapsed to her knees. Unknowingly, Khiya's eyes welled up with tears; all she wanted was to support her mother. Kiesha and Khiya could only hear their own tears, drowning out the rest of the judge's comments.
"dont cry baby, girls dont cry. daddy loves you!" jacion yelled with a stern face making eye contact with khiya as the policemen took him out the court room.
"i love yall! remember girls dont cry khyia" jacion yelled once more before disappearing behind the doors in the hold of the police men.
khiya picked her mother up, and they walked out the court room hand and hand with their heads held as high as they could be. khiya stopped outside the court room stood on her tippy toes as the patent leather on her jordans creased and wiped her mothers tired eyes.
"girls dont cry mama"
"girls dont cry khy"
tell him i need him. tell him i love him. itll be alright.
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