Love Is Complicated

Chapter 26

Zuri 🙋🏾‍♀️

8:00 pm

Anthony sets up the mattress and I make Myla a makeshift crib. After me and Anthony have settled into bed, he falls asleep.

Thank god.

I get out of bed quietly and go in the kitchen. I look in my purse for the alcohol. I take it out my bag and open it. I chug half of it down in 30 seconds.

God I needed that.

I feel like Anthony doesn't know the real me. Only Dion really understands me. I don't think he even knows I've been to jail or even shot someone. I'm barely even 18. That's probably why my parents were so disappointed in me when I got pregnant.

I sigh. I hear Myla cry. I immediately get up and bring her in the kitchen. I cradle her. She's probably hungry. I pull down my shirt and let her drink milk.

I can't wait till she grows up.

I put her back to bed and put her back in the crib. I go back in the kitchen and drink the rest of the wine. I hear a knock on the door.

What could someone possibly need at 9:00 pm? I open the door. I see a face I never thought I would see again. I walk out and close the front door.

"What could you possibly want, Echo?" I say with a stern face.

"You haven't changed on bit. Where's my niece?" Echo says with her eyebrows raised.

I look at her.

"Ok, ok we all know why I'm here" Echo says with her eyes wide open.

"What happened?" Echo asks.

"It all happened so quickly. I'm just not ready to be honest."

"Do you feel like this is right?" Echo asks me.

I stay silent.

"You're not okay. And if you're not gonna speak, that's not my problem." Echo says with her arms crossed.

"You're my sister, Echo. I need you. Please." I say about to break down.

Echo nods and walks down the stairs. I walk back inside.

I start to cry. I get a knife and go in the bathroom. I slowly fall down on the bathroom door. I sit on the floor and cry. I get the lighter and make the knife hot. I lift up my shorts and slice my skin with the knife. I wince.

I think about Myla. I sniffle.

There is no better version of me.

Next day....

2:00 pm

I look in the fridge for some food. It's empty.

"I'm gonna run to the store real quick. Can you feed Myla while I'm gone? It's almost her nap time." I say while getting his keys.

He nods.

I walk out. I drive to a Giant. I get bread, eggs, milk, cereal, diapers, turkey, and cheese.

I go to self-checkout. I scan every item and the final price is $46.89.

Geez! Since when were groceries this expensive? I have a job interview later at 4:00 pm. I always tried to avoid getting a job so I could take care of Myla, but I feel like Anthony does everything and I wanna do things myself sometimes.

I walk out and the alarm starts to beep.

Shit.

A security guard walks up to me. He brings his hand out for my receipt and looks in my cart. I must've forgotten to check out the cheese.