ꜰᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

scars.

omniscient pov | discussion.

9:11 A.M.

after finishing up their hygiene, taraji and fantasia went downstairs joining mariah, karen, some man, and some other women in the dining area where there was every single breakfast food you could name.

"woah, you did it, big, didn't you?" taraji asked karen, looking surprised by the huge breakfast that was in front of her.

"like you wanted. let me introduce you two. monica, my grandbaby and their girlfriend fantasia. you two, this is monica, mariahs mother and my daughter in law and this is my husband, theodore."

"hello, ladies." theodore spoke first outstretching his hand.

"nice to meet you both. she has his whole face." monica spoke, looking directly at a clueless taraji.

"ok, everyone, let's sit down and enjoy the food before it gets cold."

after saying grace taraji sat next to fantasia, karen sat at the head of the table, and so did her husband theodore while monica and mariah sat by one another.

"orange juice, still your favorite?" karen asked taraji.

"yeah, apple juice still yours?"

"you know it. never could get into that orange medicine."

"it don't taste like medicine. you just going by how it look. you gotta try it."

"ill pass on that." she chuckled, eating a hash brown.

meanwhile, fantasia was still worried about the message she had received from patti's team saying that she has to travel and perform for patti's tribute in less than a week.

"you okay?"

"yeah, im fine, baby. how you feeling?"

"straight for the most part. this food slap, though not gon lie."

after they ate, karen had her housekeepers clean and throw away the leftover breakfast.

taraji and fantasia went to their rooms to change into something other than pajamas. karen knocked at their room door.

"taraji?" karen called out.

"yeah?"

"join me on the patio when you're done here, will you?"

"okay."

monica was struggling with her daughter, and she refused to put on her clothing.

mariah always refused to put on short sleeve shirts, and she never wanted her mommy to put on her tops. monica never found out why her daughter stopped letting her put on her shirts and why she only liked wearing things that covered her arms.

"riah, baby, let mommy put the shirt on, please." she spoke while doing sign language.

mariah shook her head no and moved away from her mom. monica was still trying to put her shirt on, and she ran out of the room, barging into fantasia and tarajis room.

"hey, what's wrong, mama?" taraji looked concerned as she kneeled to mariahs height.

she was doing the sign language. i hate i couldn't understand it.

"she said her mom is forcing her to put on a shirt." fantasia said, leaving taraji in awe.

"when you learn that?"

"school."

taraji turned her focus back to mariah.

"tasia ask her why she don't wanna put on a shirt."

"she said because her mom will find out."

"find out what?" taraji asked, and fantasia communicated with mariah through sign language.

mariah didn't say anything else she held both of her arms out. her forearms were covered in cuts. some were fresh due to a little blood still pulsing out, and some of them left marks, indicating that she had been cutting herself for a while.

seeing her arms made taraji tear up a little. she wondered what a child could be going through that bad to where they would wanna harm themselves.

"how old is she?"

"she's nine, and she wants to know if youre gonna tell anyone."

"nah, i won't. ask her do anybody else know about it."

she just shook her head no and looked at the floor.

"ask her if she would like for one of us to put the shirt on for her."

"yes, but without her mom being here."

"okay ill be right back."

as taraji was walking out of the room, she wiped her eyes and ran into monica.

"hey, have you seen mariah?"

"she in the room, but before you get her, can you tell me where her shirt at?"

"is she okay?"

"she will be."

"ill get it for you."

she came back out with a short sleeve.

"she ain't got no long sleeve?"

"uh yeah, hold a minute."

she came out and gave taraji the long sleeve and awaited her daughters arrival.

"she just a kid..." taraji said, putting the shirt over her head. once the fabric hit the fresh wombs, mariah flinched and winced in pain.

"tell her im sorry, tasia."

"she said it's okay. also, she needs something on it. i think vaseline will help."

"can we just wrap it?"

"she doesn't want her mother or anyone else to find out. wrapping it will be noticeable."

"so vaseline it is."

mariah hesitated because of the pain it would cause, but she went through with it because she simply just felt safe with them.

they all walked out of the room. mariah was latched onto tarajis arm.

"hey, riah, come on, baby. let's go to the park." monica said.

"is it okay if i tag along?" fantasia asked, making taraji frown.

"sure! we're in the black car outside. just join us when you're done up here."

"okay, thank you."

"why you leaving me, tasia?"

"so you two can talk alone. you'll be fine. i know you will."

"aight and when we finish you gon be back here?"

"im not sure, but if you get bored, you can always call me."

"a few hours apart wouldn't hurt anything, lovebirds." karen said from behind the couple, startling them "ill be waiting for your appearance, taraji." she added, making her way downstairs.

"i love you, pretty girl."

"i love you more, baby. please don't hold back on her. let everything out."

"i will."