Klarity is starting fresh at a new college, pursuing her dream of becoming a dermatologist, but the road to a new life isn't as smooth as she hoped. Determined to leave behind the shadows of her past, she's focused on building a future she can be pr...
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Klarity pulled up to the house, and her little brother J came out to meet her.
"Bro, can we take a ride real quick? I need to get away," he said, his tone serious.
"What's wrong?" Klarity asked, unlocking the door. "Get in. We can grab some food, and we'll be up all night doing your hair anyway."
"Can you do it at the shop?"
"Yeah, J. Go get my key from my room. You know the code to unlock it."
After a quick trip to Chick-fil-A, they arrived at Klarity's shop. Once inside, she noticed a fresh scar on J's face.
"Man, what the hell happened right here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "And don't lie—it looks new as hell."
"That's why I gotta leave," J said, his voice dropping. "Yo daddy be tweaking when y'all ain't there. We got into it, and he left. I told Mama, and she acted like she ain't give a damn. He been on my ass lately, and it's got me not even wanting to be there no more. He acts like I'm not his son, and Mama just lets him. I'm not a little boy anymore, Klarity. He can't just put his hands on me and think I'm cool with it. He came in my room tweaking, asking why I wasn't in school when he already knows why. Then he tried to fight me. I had to get him off me."
Klarity sighed, anger rising in her chest. "Man, J. I don't even know what to say. I hate that shit. I'm not staying out of it this time—I'ma say something to him. And Mama needs to stop letting him do you like that. You're doing good, bro. You're something to be proud of, and you know I got you. Always."
J nodded but looked down. "I been thinking, sis. You finna leave me. You're graduating next year and I'm gonna be stuck there by myself."
Klarity placed a hand on his shoulder. "Who told you I was gonna leave you? To be honest, I haven't even thought about what comes after college, but I'm thinking about real estate school while I figure out my business plans. If I ever leave, I'm taking you with me. I'll leave when you leave. I promise. You're gonna play in the NFL and do what you need to do. Trust the process."
"I love you, sis. Thank you for being there for me. I'ma make you proud, and we're gonna reach the top together."
Klarity hated how their family treated J, but she'd stayed silent for too long. As far as she knew, she was her daddy's only girl, and he always listened to her.
When they got home, their mama and daddy were sitting in the living room. Klarity immediately sensed trouble.
"Wassup, y'all?" she said cautiously. "What y'all had going on today?"
"Wassup, baby," her daddy said. "J, go take out the garbage and then head to your room."
"Wait, wait, wait," Klarity interrupted. "J, stay right here. We're gonna talk like a family before this turns into some bullshit. Daddy, you're not about to keep treating him like he's not your son. And Mama, why do you sit up here and act like this is okay? This is your only son."
