One night in Manhattan

Put ya Lighters Up

While the cleaner tackled Fatima's kitchen, dining and living rooms, she sat on the couch with her feet up comparing flight prices and schedules. The flights she showed interest in were booked for her favorite seats, but with the last-minute arrangements she had to take what she could get. She and Seven's flights booked for Late Wednesday morning and returning Saturday evening. She wished they could stay longer but school was starting the next week and Fatima had yet to do any of Seven's shopping. By the time the cleaner finished in her apartment Seven had fallen asleep across her bed, Fatima was fighting the urge to succumb to her own fatigue, and she could feel a headache coming on. She hoped it wasn't a migraine but instead a hunger headache remembering that she had not eaten since the afternoon before. Not wanting to eat anything heavy before her nap, Fatima opted for a protein shake while she made her final call before her nap. Her hair appointment wasn't for a few hours and while Fatima was usually an early morning or late evening kind of girl, the timing of this appointment for perfectly into the day she was having.

"Hey Daddy." She sang into the phone. "I emailed you my itinerary, just wanted to make sure you got it." They talked for a few minutes running down the travel itinerary before ending the call.

Fatima smiled when she looked down at her phone after it vibrated in her hand. it was a message from Zac. "Sorry again Beautiful. Can't wait for dinner tomorrow."

Fatima shot back a quick response. "Don't mention it.. Seriously Do Not. I'm still recovering." She laughed at herself as she climbed onto her bed. Instantly, she smelled his familiar scent in her sheets. "Can't wait either." She said partially hoping she'd have a repeat of the night before. One more serving of Zac before a flight the next day was just what Fatima needed to get her through. Fatima caught herself smiling into her blankets. "Bitch absolutely not! Its been a while, yes! but this nigga not bout to have you open like a 24 hour Walmart. Smiling and shit." She chastised herself aloud. She set her alarm for 90 minutes and was out just as she felt her headache trying to intensify.

Fatima woke to the smell of chicken nuggets in the air fryer. She looked over at the clock on her nightstand to find the time. She hadn't quite made the full 90 minutes but she got up anyway. Her head was pounding. Ever since her accident, she'd been having really bad migraines off and on. she kept telling herself to see a doctor about them but she also hated doctors and avoided them as much as she could.

"Hi mommy." Seven called out seeing her mom drag herself lazily from her bedroom.

"Hey baby, whatcha making?"

"Dino nuggets and tater tots." She said with her kneeling in the chair as she took out the food carefully with tongs."

"smells good. Made some for me?"

"No. You were sleep."

"imma remember that." Fatima said looking through the cabinets for a glass so she could take the Tylenol she was carrying. "have you gotten you things together for Steph's house?"

"Not yet. I'm going to do it as soon as I finish." Seven said climbing on the counter to get ketchup.

"When you're over there, does Mr. Nick ever spend the night?" Fatima knew that Diana and her husband were still sleeping together but Diana swore that he was not living there. If that were the case, Seven would no longer be allowed over. "No, he was only there one time but he didn't stay."

"you sure?" Fatima asked again.

"uh huh" seven said chomping down on her nuggets. Fatima still made a mental note to talk to Diana about it. realizing that her daughter really was not sharing with her, Fatima went to the fridge in search of something to eat. She grabbed a few ingredients from Trader Joe's and made herself a pizza in the oven before calling to cancel her hair appointment. She knew the pulling of the blow dryer and what not was going to worsen her headache so she decided that she would do her own wash and go when she got back from taking Seven to her friend's house. And she could use the rest before she went over to Lauren's to be with her before her appointment the next morning.