I'm Not Ok (MegYoncé)

Tres

Omniscient
23 years ago.

"Michelle, Kelly, Beyoncé and Solange! Come set the table and get ready for dinner!" Donna calls out to the living room where her 4 daughters are watching Music videos and pretending to be a girl group.

They wash their hands and immediately get to work.

Solange grabs the placemats, Kelly gets the plates, Beyoncé grabs silverware, and Michelle takes the cups.

The table is set in less than a minute.

Donna chuckles lightly at her girls' system.

She marvels at the way they move as a unit.

They're like one soul in 4 bodies.

Even with Solange being 5 years younger than Beyoncé, the next youngest sister.

She was born and fell right into step with her sisters.

Donna silently prays that they stay close long after she's gone.

The front door opens and the energy in the house shifts dramatically.

Their father is home.

William stumbles into the house and tosses his shoes and jacket on the floor.

While Michelle picks up his clothes, Donna quickly piles his plate with food placing it in front of him.

Kelly grabs him a bottle of beer and pops the top off before passing it to him.

"Brian." His gruff voice calls out.

"Yes, dad?" Beyoncé questions walking over to him internally grimacing at the ugly nickname her father has given her.

She feels like he hates her.
She's a disappointment to him just by existing.

That pain runs deep within her.

Past her skin and bones. Beyond her heart.
The pain hits her in her soul.

"Run to the store and get me some cigarettes and beer." He says tossing a wad of money at her.

"Her name isn't Brian. It's Beyoncé. Bee-Yon-Say." 8-year-old Solange huffs at their father.

She is often the only person to correct their father on his behavior towards Bey.

"His name is whatever I call him." He says shoveling food into his mouth. "Boy, why you still standing there? Go get them fucking cigarettes."

"Will, it's getting late. Can you just wait until morning? She's just 13. She shouldn't be out there alone." Donna asks softly.

"I'll go with her, dad." Kelly says.

"Yeah, me too." Michelle chimes in.

"Y'all filling his head with all that bullshit. Brian, come here." William says.

Beyoncé takes a tentative step toward him.

He grabs her sweat pants and pulls them down revealing her briefs.

"Y'all see that bulge? This is a boy. He can handle running to the fucking store and back alone."

Beyoncé quickly grabs her pants pulling them up.

A wave of anger and embarrassment washes over her.

She wants to bash William's head in. She wants to stab him with the fork he's using to stuff his face.