All That Matters

16 | New Dynamic

"Is this thing on?" Mila's voice was laced with a chuckle as she sat on her couch with a Christmas tree mug of hot chocolate and a plate of Saija's gingerbread men she'd baked at home and gifted them. The warm glow of the lights from her Christmas tree cast on her face as she took a sip, looking at herself on her phone and the names of people joining her live as the number increased by the second.

"We sharing, Mom?" Dylan came up from the floor, playing with her toys and climbing to Mila's side in her purple Rapunzel dress decorated with cookie crumbs and sequins.

"Girl, I asked you if you wanted some." Dylan's giggles made her smile nonetheless as she assisted her with holding the thick mug to her mouth. Mila slimmed her eyes as she read the tiny texts to respond to some.

"They asked how old you are, baby."

"Four, Mommy." Dylan pulled the cup away briefly to breath and speak, then went back to her warm drink.

"And when's your birthday?"

"March 10th."

"Alright, smart girl!" Mila pulled the mug away from her for good and gave her another cookie to soak it all up while she finished playing. "My baby's growing up y'all." She picked up her phone to read the comments better. "How's everybody doing?"

The comments quickly started rolling in with heys and we miss yous. She recognized one username in particular.

"Hey, Bri." Her cousin. One of the ones who was a best friend that she happened to share blood with. "I miss you, too. Message me." She opened herself up but planned to keep it through direct messages instead of texts on her changed number.

"You guys can ask me questions. That's what we're here for; a lil check-up and updates meeting."

@imamfstargirl: what have you been doing since you've been gone? You gonna leave us again?

"Things that I've done since I've been gone include: moving to a new city, getting a job, and you know, just living in the moment off camera and trying to be happy. And for now, I'm on here and I don't see a reason for that to change anytime soon." Mila shrugged while taking a final sip of her hot chocolate and trying to read comments before they disappeared, which was harder than she thought it would be because of their fast pace.

"No, candydripped, I'm not married anymore, and no, yodaddystrickling," She chuckled at the username, "I don't live with Yas. Used to when I first moved out here. She lives pretty close to my house."

@sweethoneyhottie: are u gonna do YouTube again? miss u on there girly

"I don't think I'll be doing YouTube again. Sorry guys. I've come to like the short form style of content since I do it for my job, so maybe I'll just start to make some for me."

In the sea of comments and emojis, Mila spotted the number on his jersey, the muscles on his body, the God-crafted features of his face in his profile picture as he joined as a viewer.

Suddenly, her broadcast was interrupted by an incoming call from him. Mila smiled and shook her head as she declined it and her live resumed.

"My bad, y'all. People trying to get me off live and all to themselves."

@bigbossjag: oop who's calling us sis?

Mila couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Girl you are crazy!" Her giggles were prominent as she saw Damon join again.

"I see you. Do not get in here doing a lot." Her thick lips were spread into a smile as the comments began to erupt. He came out of the shadows and left some emojis that looked like him anytime he laid his gaze on her, when his eyes would turn into ripe red hearts.