Mama's Little Girls

twenty-eight

Porsha Williams
10 September 2019
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I sat on the edge of my couch, staring at my phone in disbelief. The call had ended just minutes ago, but the sting of Onika's words still echoed in my mind. How dare she talk to me like that? I could hardly wrap my head around it. It was like she'd completely forgotten who I was, what I meant to her, how long we'd been friends.

"Are you okay?" My husband, leaned against the doorway, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah," I replied, forcing a smile that felt so hollow it could shatter. "I'm fine."

"Sounds like it," he said, his voice dripping with skepticism. He knew me too well to buy that line. "What's going on?"

"Just, you know, Onika drama," I said, waving my hand dismissively as if that would wipe away the anger swirling inside me.

"Want to talk about it?"

I shrugged, not wanting to give him the details. This was my issue, and I didn't want to burden him with my frustrations, especially since he'd already heard me vent about Onika before. "It's nothing, really. Just some things with Onika and her new girlfriend."

He raised an eyebrow. "You mean Beyoncé?"

I nodded, my annoyance bubbling to the surface again. "Yeah, that one. She's just—ugh, I don't even know. It's like Onika has completely lost her mind. She's so wrapped up in this relationship that she's forgetting about everything and everyone else. I'm worried for her."

He sighed and crossed his arms. "Porsha, she's an adult. She can make her own choices."

"Sure," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But this is Beyoncé we're talking about. I mean, look at her past! I don't trust her to treat Onika the way she deserves to be treated."

"Okay, but you have to admit that Onika is happy," he said, his tone calm and rational. "Isn't that what you want for her?"

"Yeah, but—"

Before I could finish, my phone buzzed again. I glanced down at the screen, and my heart skipped a beat. Alani. I quickly picked up the call, desperate to vent. "Alani! You won't believe what just happened."

"Hey, girl!" Alani chirped, her cheerful tone a sharp contrast to my mood. "What's up?"

"You know that conversation I had with Onika earlier?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "She just cursed me out!"

"Wait, what?" Alani gasped. "What did you say?"

"I was just looking out for her!" I exclaimed, feeling my anger rise again. "I told her I didn't want her to get hurt by Beyoncé. I mean, for real. I don't trust that woman. And Onika completely flipped out on me!"

"Sounds like you hit a nerve," Alani said, her tone thoughtful. "But you know she's in love, right? That can make people protective."

I rolled my eyes, though I knew Alani couldn't see me. "That's exactly my point! She's acting all lovesick, and it's blinding her from the truth. I just wanted to remind her that she deserves better."

"Maybe," Alani said slowly, "but sometimes friends need to let each other figure things out for themselves. It's cute how in love Onika is right now. Can't you see that?"

"Cute?" I huffed. "It's reckless! She's blind to the kind of person Beyoncé really is."

"Porsha," Alani said softly, "I get that you're worried, but this is Onika's life. She's an adult, and she's making her own choices. You can't force her to see things your way."