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October 10
BRIGHTWOOD
I'd been here for two days now, and honestly, this shit was overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys, but damn, they can be a handful. Especially Zavier. That boy got a stubborn streak like I ain't never seen. You tell him to do one thing, he'll look you dead in your face and do the exact opposite. Meanwhile, Zaelan, he's the quiet one. He listens, stays outta trouble, and keeps to himself. They like night and day, complete opposites, but I love 'em both just the same.
Today was no different. Zavier was running around the house like he was on some kind of sugar high, knocking shit over like he didn't have a care in the world. "Zavier, sit your little ass down before you break something!" I called out, but he wasn't hearing none of that. Too caught up in whatever adventure his little mind was on. It was like he had an on-switch and no damn off-switch.
Zaelan, on the other hand, was sitting at the kitchen table, just chilling. He had his coloring book out, focused on staying inside the lines like it was a job. He glanced up at Zavier once, then just shook his head, like he was used to his brother's antics and knew better than to get involved. Smart kid.
I leaned back on the couch, rubbing my temples. "Man, these kids gon' drive me crazy," I muttered, wondering how the hell Jade handled all this on her own every day. Just as I was about to get up and snatch Zavier before he ran into another piece of furniture, Jade walked in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She took one look at me and chuckled.
"They'll wear you out if you let 'em," she said, a small smile on her lips.
"You ain't lyin'," I sighed, leaning back. "Zavier got energy for days."
"Yeah, he's stubborn as hell, but that's just him. Zaelan, though, he's more like me. Laid-back and chill."
"Nah, I think Zavier get that stubbornness from you, for real," I said with a smirk. "Zaelan's the one who acts like me."
Jade rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head. "Whatever you say, Zay. Either way, they both got their own personalities."
I nodded, watching Zavier make another lap around the living room with two toy cars in his hands, making race car noises. "Yeah, they good kids, though. Even if Zavier be tryin' my patience."
Jade came over and sat beside me on the couch, her presence calming me down a little. "You're doing good, Zay. It's just gonna take some time to get used to. They're still getting used to having you around, too."
I ran my hands over my face, feeling the weight of it all. "I know. It's just hard. I wanna be here for them, catch up for all the time I missed, but it's like I'm trying to catch up on three years in three days."
Jade reached over and took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You're here now, and that's what matters. Don't be too hard on yourself."
