𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐆𝐨 (𝐮𝐡 𝐨𝐡)

22. Quiet hours

Kimoni's pov

I sat slumped in the chair beside Joelle's crib, exhaustion pulling at my bones. These last few nights have been straight-up hell. I know everyone said having a baby was hard, but nobody warned me it'd be like this-like crying at 3 a.m. because Joelle can't keep her milk down, or spending hours trying to get her to latch on, only for her to push me away. I don't know if it's something I'm doing wrong or if she's the one struggling, but I've got an appointment with the pediatrician soon. I'm gonna ask all the questions then, 'cause something just ain't right.

I crossed my legs, resting my arm on the armrest while I cradled Joelle's head. She was wide awake, eyes big and bright, looking around like she had no intention of going back to sleep. "You not tired yet, JoJo?" I whispered, my voice barely louder than the hum of the fan in the corner. She just lay there, making those little baby sounds, innocent and pure, not a care in the world.

The moonlight crept through the window, casting a soft glow over the room, just enough light for me to see her tiny face. I toyed with her hair, my heart swelling with a mix of love and fear. "I'm so glad I have you," I murmured, my voice catching in my throat. I didn't know it was possible to love someone this much, to feel so protective yet so damn scared at the same time.

Joelle's eyes flickered to mine, like she could sense everything I was feeling. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, her skin warm and soft against my lips. "We gon' figure this out, baby girl," I promised her, even though I wasn't sure how. "You and me, we gon' be alright."

The room fell quiet, just the two of us in our little bubble of midnight silence. Outside, the city was still buzzing-cars speeding by, distant voices carrying through the thin walls of our apartment. But in here, it was just me and Joelle, the world outside feeling miles away.

I didn't have all the answers, but I knew one thing for sure-I'd do whatever it took to keep Joelle safe, to make sure she was healthy and happy. This was just the beginning of our journey together, and even though it was harder than I ever imagined, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"I love you, JoJo," I whispered, settling deeper into the chair. "And I got you. Always."

The house was big-really roomy for a growing family-and it was ours. The house was paid off since the moment we got it, and we'd made it home, filling it with the matched furniture and older collectibles from my mother's house all worked together. Ray and I had painted the walls ourselves, trying to make it feel like more than just a temporary spot. The living room was a mix of brown tones, with old photos of family and friends hanging on the walls, telling the story of how we got here.

But tonight, the place felt suffocating. The weight of the world seemed to be pressing down on me, the silence broken only by Joelle's soft coos and the ticking of the clock on the wall. I could hear Ray snoring in the bedroom down the hall, completely knocked out after another long day at work. I didn't blame him; he was doing everything he could to keep us afloat, taking on hours, giving up two weeks of his leave even picking up shifts on the weekends. But it left me feeling alone in this-like it was just me and Joelle against the world.

I adjusted Joelle in my arms, trying to get comfortable. My back was killing me, but I didn't want to move too much and risk waking her up again. I could still feel the tension in my shoulders from the endless hours of trying to soothe her, rocking back and forth until my muscles ached.

A ring on the front door broke through the quiet, startling me out of my thoughts. I wasn't expecting anyone, especially not this late. My heart skipped a beat, and I held Joelle a little tighter, her tiny body pressed against mine. Who could be knocking at this hour?

I stood up slowly, trying not to make any sudden movements, and walked through the house over to the door. Peeking through the peephole, I let out a sigh of relief when I saw Kenya standing there, her hair wrapped up in a scarf, looking like she'd just rolled out of bed. I unlocked the door and opened it, waving her in.