The early morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of Nia's bedroom. She lay there staring at the ceiling, the weight of everything pressing heavily on her chest. Her mind raced with thoughts of Marcus, Liam's offer, and what all of it meant for Zion.
By the time she got up, Zion was already awake, humming to himself as he sat at the small kitchen table with a bowl of cereal. He swung his legs under the chair, oblivious to the storm brewing in his mother's mind.
"Mummy, mi a big boy now, right?" he asked, spooning cereal into his mouth.
"Big boy?" Nia repeated, pouring herself a cup of tea. "Why yuh ask dat?"
"'Cause mi meet mi daddy," Zion said casually, like he'd just mentioned seeing a bird outside.
Nia froze, her hand gripping the edge of the counter. "Zion," she said carefully, "what yuh feel 'bout dat? Yuh like him?"
Zion thought for a moment, his little face scrunching up in concentration. "Him seem nice, but mi nuh know him yet. Him tell mi him gwine teach mi fi play football. Yuh tink him will?"
Her throat tightened. Marcus always had a way with promises. Whether he'd follow through was another story.
"Maybe," she said, keeping her tone neutral.
Zion nodded, satisfied, and went back to his cereal. But Nia couldn't shake the knot in her stomach. Marcus's reappearance was stirring up things she thought she'd buried long ago.
---
Later that day, Nia walked down to the beachfront where Liam had asked to meet her. The sea breeze was cool against her skin, and the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore calmed her nerves-if only slightly.
She spotted Liam standing under a large almond tree, a sketchpad in his hand. He looked up when she approached, flashing her that easy smile that always seemed to disarm her.
"Nia," he said warmly, closing the sketchpad. "Mi glad yuh come."
"Liam," she said, folding her arms. "Yuh pull mi outta work fi this. Wah yuh really waan talk 'bout?"
Liam chuckled. "Straight to di point, eh? Alright, fine." He gestured to a spot on the sand. "Sit down wid mi. Mi have something fi show yuh."
She hesitated before lowering herself onto the sand, sitting a few feet away from him.
"Dis is di plan," he said, flipping open the sketchpad to reveal a detailed drawing of a small building. The design was simple but elegant, with large windows that overlooked the sea. "Di café an' gallery in one space. Mi waan showcase local artists, yuh know? Mek di village shine."
Nia leaned closer, her interest piqued despite herself. "Dis look real nice, Liam. But why yuh come to me 'bout it? Plenty other people more qualified."
"Mi nuh look fi qualifications," Liam said firmly. "Mi look fi heart. Nia, yuh have talent, an' yuh good wid people. Mi know yuh could bring life to dis place."
She bit her lip, studying the drawing. The idea of being part of something so ambitious stirred something inside her-a feeling she hadn't allowed herself to entertain in years.
"But mi cyaan just leave Miss Ivy so," she said softly. "She a depend pon mi."
"Miss Ivy a strong woman," Liam said. "An' mi talk to her already. She seh she woulda proud fi see yuh move up in life."
Nia's eyes widened. "Yuh talk to Miss Ivy 'bout mi?"
"Course," he said, smiling. "Mi wouldn't approach yuh widout makin' sure it mek sense. Nia, yuh deserve more than just surviving. Mi waan give yuh a chance fi thrive."
The sincerity in his voice shook her. No one had spoken to her like that in years, not since before Marcus had left her pregnant and alone.
"Mi need time fi think," she said finally, standing up.
Liam nodded, his expression understanding. "Tek all di time yuh need. Mi nah pressure yuh."
As she walked away, she felt a strange mix of fear and hope bubbling inside her. Could she really take this leap?
---
When she got home, Marcus was waiting on the porch again, leaning against the wooden railing with a sheepish look on his face.
Nia sighed. "Yuh back already?"
"Hear mi out, Nia," he said quickly, holding up his hands. "Mi come fi talk."
"Talk 'bout wah?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"About Zion... an' us."
She stiffened. "Marcus, yuh lose any right fi talk 'bout 'us' di day yuh leave mi fi fend fi miself."
"Mi know," he said quietly. "An' mi sorry. Mi young an' stupid back then. But mi change, Nia. Mi really want fi mek tings right."
She laughed bitterly. "Right? Yuh waan fix tings now, after mi spend years strugglin'? Yuh nah know wah mi haffi go through fi mek sure Zion eat every day."
"Mi know mi nuh deserve yuh forgiveness," he said, stepping closer. "But mi a beg yuh fi give mi a chance fi prove miself."
She shook her head, her heart pounding with anger and confusion. "Marcus, yuh cyaan jus' show up an' expect mi fi forget di pain yuh cause. Zion deserve better."
"Him deserve both a wi," Marcus said softly.
Nia stared at him, her resolve faltering. Could he really have changed? Or was this just another fleeting moment of guilt?
"Alright," she said finally, her voice steady. "Yuh can see Zion. But don't tink fi a second dat mi letting yuh back in mi life jus' so. Yuh haffi earn dat."
Marcus nodded, relief washing over his face. "Thank yuh, Nia. Mi won't let yuh down again."
She watched him walk away, her chest tight with emotion. Between Liam's offer and Marcus's sudden reappearance, her life felt like it was spinning out of control.
For years, she'd fought to stay strong, to shield Zion from the chaos. But now, the past and the future were colliding, forcing her to confront truths she'd long buried.
As the sun set, painting the sky in hues of red and gold, Nia sat on the porch, staring out at the horizon.
"What mi supposed fi do now?" she whispered, her voice lost in the evening breeze.
---
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