Love Is Complicated

Chapter 25

Zuri 🙍🏾‍♀

It's finally move-in day! It took long enough. I'm still packing since I bought a lot of clothes last week. Anthony's still mad at me for using his card too. It was only a couple hundred bucks. Oh well.

"Baby, can you help me?" I ask pouting.

"Yeah no. I still have to pack my stuff. Remember I've been living here since I was a kid. I have a lot more things to pack than you. Trust." Anthony says while packing his clothes.

"Where's Myla?" I ask concerned. Anthony looks at me.

"Daycare," Anthony says while looking at his phone.

What! I'm not ready for her to go to daycare! She's only 11 months. She's not even 1!

"Why! I told you I wanted to wait." I say pissed.

Anthony comes closer. He puts his hands on my waist. He kisses my cheek.

"Everything's gonna be fine, I know this person. She's in good hands." Anthony says while continuing to pack his clothes.

God I hate when when he calms me down like that. It's like I forget the reason I was even mad and all focus is on him.

I sigh. I walk out and go to the bathroom. I start to cry. I don't even know why. I just feel upset with myself. I feel like I'm a bad parent. I don't do the things other moms do when they have kids. I mean I look at Myla and I just feel like a disappointment.

I whimper. I hear a knock on the door. I quickly get up and wipe my tears.

"So I think- what's wrong with you?" Anthony asks while touching my face softly.

"Nothing." I say while brushing him off. I open the front door and go on a walk. I start to cry so hard. It starts to rain.

How great.

I sit under a bench with a covering. I wipe my tears. My eyes are very red. A girl that looks a little older than me sits next to me.

"You good? I got a couple of bucks if that's what you need." The girl says to me.

I turn to her. I smirk.

"No, I'm not fine and I am clearly distressed. I would love some money." I say in a serious tone.

She hands me $20. I smile and walk to the local convenience store.

5:30 pm

I walk into the convenience store. I walk to the register.

"Get me a pack of Malboro," I say looking for my cash.

"Are you 21?" He asks me.

I chuckle.

"It's rude to ask a woman's age y'know? I guess your mother didn't teach you that. Now give me the godamn pack of cigarettes." I say in a stern tone.

He gets the cigarettes and I slam the $20 bill on the table and snatch the cigarettes.

"Keep the change," I say while walking out.

It's cloudy right now. It's better than if it was raining. I bring out my lighter and hold the cigarette in my mouth. I light it up and inhale. God, I haven't smoked in a while. I exhale and start to cough. After a while, I got used to it.

I heard my phone ring.

Anthony: Where are you? We are about to leave.

I leave him on read and walk home.

6:00 pm

I walk inside with my cigarette. Anthony's sitting on the couch looking disappointed. Just like my parents. I sigh.

"Listen, I don't have time for a lecture. I'm gonna finish packing up then we can go." I say about to walk off.

Anthony grabs me and pulls me. I gasp and my heart drops.

"What were you thinking? Why are you smoking? Oh my fucking god!" Anthony says furiously.

"Don't fucking touch me! I don't know who you think you are but you're not Anthony. The demons must have got to you cause something wrong with you!" I say while storming off. I stop.

"Where the fuck is my kid?" I ask with my hand on my hip.

"I'm about to pick her up," Anthony says with no emotion.

"No your not, before you try to go crazy on my kid!" I say while taking my keys and walking out.

I get in my car and pick her up. I notice she looks really red. My baby never looks like that. The daycare owner stared at me. I look her up and down. I pick up Myla and walk into my car. I buckle her up and drive off. I go home.

I pack up the rest of my stuff and put it downstairs. I look in the cabinets for food and find alcohol. I look behind me to see if anyone there. No one is. I get an empty water bottle and fill it up. I put it in my purse.

I walk into the car and buckle Myla. I sigh and walk in the front seat.

After 5 minutes in the drive, Anthony finally decides to say something.

"Listen, I'm sorry that I was mad at you. It's just I want the best for Myla and I want her to be the better version of you." Anthony says while make a left turn.

"You remind me of my ex. You know I finally escaped him and thought I found someone better but I'm starting to reconsider that thought." I say while playing with my finger.

"What do you mean by that?" Anthony asks while at a red light.

"He abused me? I already told you that." I say while just praying somebody will call me so I can get out of this conversation.

"I don't abuse you." Anthony say looking confused.

"You're in the early stages." I say straightforward.

I look at Anthony. He looks like he's thinking about something.

"All I did was pull you. That's not abuse." Anthony says looking dumb.

"Don't pull me then." I say about to scream my lungs off.

He doesn't respond. I wait and wait till we get there so I can drink my alcohol. I don't have time for all this talk.

We finally get there. The place is fancy. I walk inside the lobby's and we get inside the apartment.

ofc had to leave yall on a cliffhanger. stay tuned to find out!