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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Namiko lay in her bed, clutching her stuffed bunny tightly. The events of the day played over in her mind, making it hard to fall asleep. Hakeem and Jabari's tense exchange had left an imprint on her young mind, and she couldn't shake the unease it brought. As she finally drifted off, her dreams turned into a whirlwind of confusion and fear.
In her nightmare, Jabari's angry face loomed over her, his voice loud and scary. Namiko tried to run, but her legs felt heavy, like they were stuck in mud. She called out for her mom, but her voice was too quiet to be heard. Panic surged through her, and she woke up with a start, her small body trembling and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Mommy!" Namiko cried out, her voice a mix of fear and desperation as she scrambled out of bed and ran to her mother's room. "Mommy, I had a bad dream!"
Amara was already on her feet, meeting Namiko halfway and scooping her into her arms. "Oh, baby, it's okay. Mommy's here," she soothed, rubbing Namiko's back gently.
Namiko buried her face in her mother's shoulder, her sobs muffled but persistent. "Mommy, it was so scary. Daddy was mad, and I couldn't find you."
Amara's heart ached for her little girl. She carried Namiko back to her room, sitting down on the edge of the bed and holding her close. "Shh, it's alright now. It was just a dream, sweetie. Mommy's here, and you're safe."
Namiko clung to Amara, her tears gradually subsiding. "I don' want Daddy to be mad. I want him to be nice like Hakeem."
Amara kissed the top of Namiko's head, her voice soft and reassuring. "I know, baby. Daddy's got a lot of things to work through. But you don't have to worry about that. You just need to remember that Mommy and Hakeem love you very much."
Namiko looked up at her mom, her eyes wide and full of trust. "You an' Hakeem gonna keep me safe?"
Amara smiled, brushing away a tear from Namiko's cheek. "Yes, my love. We will always keep you safe."
Namiko's grip on her stuffed bunny tightened as she nodded, her fear slowly ebbing away. "Can you stay with me till I fall 'sleep, Mommy?"
"Of course, sweetie," Amara replied, lying down beside Namiko and pulling the blanket over them. "I'll stay right here."
Namiko snuggled close to her mom, her eyelids growing heavy once more. "Love you, Mommy," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.
"I love you too, Namiko," Amara whispered back, stroking her daughter's hair until she felt Namiko's breathing even out as she drifted back to sleep.
As Amara watched her daughter sleep, she felt a renewed sense of determination to protect Namiko from the turmoil Jabari brought into their lives. With Hakeem by her side, she knew they could create a safe, loving environment for Namiko to grow up in, free from fear and filled with the warmth of family.
