Me and Namiko against the world

1

Amara's POV

Hey y'all my name is Amara but yall can call me Mara. I have a three year old daughter named Namiko love. She is my whole life and whole world. I had her when I was 19. It was an accident but it was an accident that changed my life. I had her with my toxic baby daddy Jabari. When we were together he was extremely abusive. He knows that he has a daughter but he chooses to not be in her life. He only comes around when he wants to. And when it is convenient for him.

Me and Namiko are at the mall shopping for new clothes for her when she just runs off after someone. And when I see who she is running to it's her dads jabri."Namiko, come back here! Where are you going?" I called out, my voice tinged with a mix of concern and frustration as I sprinted after my daughter. She had taken off at lightning speed, her little legs carrying her with surprising agility through the crowded mall. My heart pounded as I weaved through the throngs of people, trying to keep her in sight.

Finally, I spotted her. She had come to a stop in front of a familiar figure. My heart sank. It was Jabari, her father, and he wasn't alone. He had one of his girls draped on his arm, looking as uninterested in the situation as ever. Namiko, on the other hand, was beaming up at him, her tiny hands reaching out for a hug.

"Hey, princess," Jabari greeted her, his voice smooth and warm as if he hadn't been absent from her life for weeks. He bent down to her level, his expression softening as he embraced her. Despite everything, Namiko adored him, and it was clear she didn't understand why he wasn't around more often.

I finally caught up, slightly out of breath. "Namiko, you can't just run off like that," I said, my tone firm yet gentle. My eyes flicked to Jabari and his companion, a feeling of awkwardness settling over me like a heavy cloak.

Jabari straightened up, giving me a once-over before offering a casual nod. "What's up, Amara?" he said, as if we were old friends bumping into each other, not ex-partners with a tumultuous history.

"Jabari," I acknowledged curtly, my gaze shifting between him and the woman by his side. I didn't know her name, nor did I care to. "We're just here doing some shopping."

"Yeah, I can see that," he replied, his attention drifting back to Namiko, who was excitedly telling him about the new clothes she wanted. His smile was easy, but I couldn't shake the feeling of irritation bubbling up inside me. He could play the doting father in moments like this, but where was he when it really mattered?

"So, how's she been?" Jabari asked, his tone casual as if we were just discussing the weather.

"She's been fine," I replied, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Growing fast, learning new things every day. You'd know that if you were around more."

He had the decency to look a bit sheepish, but it quickly faded. "Yeah, well, you know how it is. Busy with work and all that."

I clenched my teeth, resisting the urge to launch into a tirade about responsibilities and priorities. Instead, I took a deep breath and focused on Namiko, who was still chattering away, oblivious to the tension between her parents.

"We should get going, Namiko," I said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Say goodbye to your dad."

She pouted but complied, wrapping her arms around Jabari for one last hug. "Bye, Daddy. I love you."

"Love you too, princess," he replied, giving her a kiss on the forehead before standing up. "Take care, Amara."

"Yeah," I said, turning away, not trusting myself to say anything more without my voice betraying my frustration.

As we walked away, I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and sadness. Seeing Namiko so happy with her dad made me wish things were different, but I knew better than to hold onto those hopes. It was up to me to be both mother and father to her, and I wouldn't let her down.