Hoops & Harmonies

52.

Monica sat quietly in the passenger seat of the G-Wagon, watching the familiar streets of Chicago pass by. The car was silent except for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional murmur of Rodney and Romelo in the backseat. Laiyah, the youngest, pressed her face against the window, eyes wide with excitement as they made their way through the city. But for Monica, excitement was the furthest thing from her mind.

As Angel steered the car toward their old neighborhood, Monica's chest tightened. Every block, every turn brought back memories—both good and bad. This was the place they'd called home before everything fell apart. The house they were returning to wasn't just a home; it was where Monica's world had come crashing down after the incident that made her question everything about her relationship with Angel.

Angel cast a quick glance at Monica, her expression filled with concern. "You okay?" she asked softly.

Monica nodded, though her heart raced. "Yeah," she lied, forcing a small smile. "Just... thinking."

Angel didn't push, sensing Monica's hesitation. They had been through so much, and even though Monica had agreed to move back to Chicago, it wasn't without her doubts. Rebuilding their relationship after everything that had happened wouldn't be easy. But it was a step. A step toward something better—or at least that's what Monica hoped.

The G-Wagon pulled into the driveway of the house they'd shared before Monica left for Atlanta. The familiarity of it hit her like a wave—the same house, the same street. But things felt different now. This wasn't just about coming home. This was about trying to rebuild the life they'd started together. A life that had been fractured by her own fears.

The kids climbed out of the car, quiet but calm. Laiyah bolted up the walkway, full of energy, while Romelo and Rodney moved slower, more cautiously. Rodney gave his mother a quiet look, filled with understanding and a hint of concern.

Monica stood for a moment beside the car, staring at the house. She felt Angel step beside her, their arms brushing lightly.

"It's strange being back, huh?" Angel asked, her voice soft and gentle.

Monica nodded. "Yeah... it is."

They walked up the familiar steps together, and as Angel unlocked the front door, Monica hesitated. She could hear the kids inside already, making themselves comfortable, but her mind was miles away. Coming back wasn't just about physical distance; it was about what she had left behind when she ran. And it was about facing the part of herself that she had tried so hard to ignore.

A week later, Monica found herself sitting in a plush chair across from Dr. Mills, their therapist. The room was warm and inviting, but despite the cozy atmosphere, tension hung heavy in the air. Angel sat beside her, leaning forward slightly, while Dr. Mills studied them both with patient eyes.

"Why don't we start by talking about what brought you both here today?" Dr. Mills asked, her tone neutral but encouraging.

Monica shifted in her seat, her fingers twisting together in her lap. She glanced at Angel, who nodded gently, offering her silent support.

"We've been through a lot recently," Monica began, her voice barely above a whisper. "There was... an incident a few months ago. I saw a picture of Angel with someone else, and... it shook me. I couldn't trust what I was seeing, and it felt like everything I knew about our relationship was suddenly uncertain."

Angel's jaw clenched slightly, but she remained quiet, letting Monica speak.

Dr. Mills leaned forward slightly. "What did that situation bring up for you, Monica? You mentioned that it shook your trust—can you tell me more about why?"

Monica's heart pounded. This was the part she had been dreading—the part where she had to face her own fears and insecurities. But if they were going to fix things, she needed to be honest. Not just with Angel, but with herself.

"I think... it wasn't just about Angel," Monica admitted, her voice wavering. "It was about everything that happened in my past. With my ex-husband."

Angel's gaze softened, and Dr. Mills gave Monica a gentle nod to continue.

"My ex-husband... he cheated on me," Monica said, her voice barely audible. "It was a long time ago, but it broke me in ways I didn't realize at the time. When I found out, it was like the ground disappeared beneath me. I had trusted him completely, and when he betrayed me, it shattered everything I thought I knew about love. It took me a long time to rebuild after that."

Angel remained quiet, her eyes focused on Monica with a mixture of empathy and understanding. Monica continued, her voice a little stronger now, though her hands trembled.

"When I saw that picture of Angel... even though I knew in my heart she wasn't that kind of person, those old fears came rushing back. It felt like I was back in that same place, back in that moment when everything had fallen apart with my ex. And I just... I panicked. I ran because it felt safer than staying and risking that kind of hurt again."

Dr. Mills nodded, absorbing Monica's words. "So, in that moment, you weren't just reacting to Angel—you were reacting to the trauma from your past. The fear that history might repeat itself, even if logically you knew it wouldn't."

Monica blinked back tears, realizing how much of her reaction had been rooted in old wounds she had never fully healed from. "Yes," she whispered. "That's exactly what it was. I didn't give Angel a chance because I was so afraid of being hurt again."

Angel's expression softened, her voice low but steady. "I've never given you a reason not to trust me, Monica. I would never hurt you like that. But I understand now why you reacted the way you did."

Monica looked at Angel, her eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and gratitude. "I know you wouldn't, Angel. I do. But that fear... it's hard to shake. It's like it's always there, waiting for something to go wrong."

Dr. Mills interjected gently, "Monica, recognizing where that fear comes from is an important step. But it's also important to understand that it's not Angel's responsibility to carry the weight of what your ex-husband did. You have to work together to build new trust, separate from those old wounds."

Monica nodded, wiping her eyes. "I know. I want to do that. I want to trust her completely, the way I know she deserves."

Angel reached over, taking Monica's hand in hers. "We'll get through this. I'm here, no matter how long it takes. We'll figure it out together."

Monica squeezed Angel's hand, her heart heavy but hopeful. The road ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like they had a chance. They had a real chance to heal—not just from the pain of the past few months, but from the wounds that had lingered long before Angel came into her life.

Dr. Mills smiled softly, her voice calm and reassuring. "You're both making incredible progress by being honest with each other. This is just the beginning, but you've already taken an important step."

Monica looked at Angel, her eyes filled with emotion. "I'm ready to rebuild, Angel. I'm ready to trust you the way I should've from the start."

Angel nodded, her grip on Monica's hand tightening. "And I'm ready to help you heal. We'll do it together."

SN: I'm going to be updating this story a lot because I'm trying to end it by Monday.