Concept : a girl and her daughter against the world with her toxic baby daddy, but she ends up finding someone who can take care of her and her daughter. He is a tall chipotle bag with dreads. She didn't know if she could trust him but she gave him...
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A few days after our mall encounter, my phone buzzed with a message from Jabari. He wanted to talk. I felt a mix of apprehension and resolve. I knew this conversation was long overdue, but the thought of facing Jabari and the memories of his abuse was daunting. However, for Namiko's sake, I decided to hear him out.
We agreed to meet at a local park, a neutral place where we could talk without Namiko overhearing. I arrived early, sitting on a bench and trying to steady my nerves. When Jabari finally showed up, I could see the tension in his posture, but his expression was determined.
"Hey, Amara," he greeted, his voice cautious.
"Jabari," I replied, my tone neutral. "What did you want to talk about?"
He took a deep breath, sitting down next to me but keeping a respectful distance. "I've been doing a lot of thinking since the mall. Seeing Namiko again...it made me realize how much I care about her. I know I haven't been there, but I want to try. I want to be a better father for her."
I studied his face, searching for sincerity. "Jabari, it's not that simple. You can't just decide to be in and out of her life when it suits you. She needs stability, consistency. And more importantly, she needs to be safe. You hurt me, and I'm not willing to risk that with her."
His eyes filled with regret, and he ran a hand over his face. "I know I messed up, Amara. I was young and stupid, and I took a lot out on you that I shouldn't have. I've grown since then. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying to be better."
I felt a surge of anger mixed with sadness. "Trying isn't enough, Jabari. Namiko deserves someone who is there all the time, not just when it's convenient. And I can't forget what you did to me. I can't put her in a situation where she might get hurt."
He nodded slowly, absorbing my words. "I get that, and I don't blame you for feeling that way. But she's my daughter too. I want to at least try to make things right. Can't we find some way for me to be involved, even a little?"
I sighed, feeling the weight of the decision. "Jabari, I appreciate that you want to change, but trust isn't something that can be rebuilt overnight. Maybe we can start with supervised visits, where I can be there to make sure Namiko is safe. But if you ever show signs of slipping back into old patterns, it's over. Do you understand?"
He nodded, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I understand, Amara. I'll take whatever chance you give me, and I'll prove to you that I'm serious about this."
"Alright," I said, feeling a mixture of relief and trepidation. "We'll try it, but only for Namiko's sake. This isn't about us, it's about her."
He looked down, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, Amara. I won't let you or Namiko down."
As we stood up to leave, I felt a sense of cautious optimism. It would be a long road, and trust would be hard to rebuild, but if Jabari truly wanted to be a better father, I owed it to Namiko to give him that chance. We walked away from the park, both of us knowing that the future was uncertain, but at least willing to try for the sake of our daughter.
