Mama's Little Girls

twenty-one

Beyoncé Knowles
4 September 2019
Apartment

Before I could even stretch, I heard a rustle, and then the bedroom door creaked open. I was ambushed by an army of whispers and giggles.

"Momma! Wake up!"

"Happy birthday, momma!"

I peeled one eye open, and there they were—my girls. Jadah looked so proud, holding a cupcake with one lopsided candle stuck in the middle. Akira and Raiya were bouncing on their toes, their grins wide enough to light up the room.

"Oh, wow." I said, pushing myself up and leaning against the headboard, smiling at them. "Is this all for me?"

"Duh." Raiya said, clutching onto my arm like she'd never let go. Akira climbed up on the bed, snuggling into my other side, and Jadah stepped closer, extending the cupcake toward me with both hands.

That made me realise the candle wasn't lit, but that only relieved me. I didn't need them messing with fire.

"Make a wish, momma." She said, her voice soft and sweet. She was growing up too fast, this one. Each day, she looked more like me, but that serious, caring look of hers, that was all her.

I closed my eyes, let the warmth of my daughters surround me, and thought about my wish. I could've wished for a lot of things—more money, more time, maybe even for Oni—not the time.

I kept it simple. I wished that my girls would always feel as loved as I did in this moment. Then I pretended to blow out the candle, and they cheered like I'd done something amazing.

Jadah set the cupcake on the bedside table, and then Akira and Raiya each pulled out little crumpled gifts from behind their backs. "We got you something else too." Raiya said, her voice all breathless with excitement.

Akira leaned in close, grinning wide, and unpinned something from her shirt. She held it up in front of me, and there it was—a bright, glittery badge that said 'Birthday Girl' in the corniest font I'd ever seen.

"Oh, no." I laughed, shaking my head. "Do I really have to wear that?"

"Yes!" All three of them said. Akira was already fastening it onto my tank top before I could say another word.

"There." She said, admiring her work. "Now everyone will know it's your birthday."

I pulled them all in for a hug, squeezing them tight. "Thank you, girls. This is the best birthday morning I've ever had."

"Can we stay home from school today? Please?" Jadah asked, her eyes bright.

"Oh, nice try, but no." I said, smirking at her. "We've all got things to do today. You've got school, and I've got cars to fix. But we'll celebrate tonight, okay? Promise."

Jadah nodded, already resigned. She was smart, that girl. Too smart for her own good, sometimes.

They scrambled out of my room to get ready, and I followed suit, showering and throwing on jeans, a clean under shirt, and my work boots. The badge felt strange against my chest, but I left it on. For them, I'd wear it proudly.

After hustling the girls through breakfast and into the car, I dropped Jadah off at her middle school. She gave me a quick hug before darting off to meet her friends, who waved to me from a distance. Then it was Akira and Raiya's turn. I walked them up to the elementary school gates, holding their hands as they chattered on about the birthday cake they wanted to bake tonight.

"Bye, momma!" They squealed, giving me quick hugs before they ran off.

I watched them until they disappeared into the schoolyard, feeling that familiar tug at my heart. No matter how many mornings we did this, it never got easier to let them go.