The Plug's Daughter

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The Plug's Daughter
Chapter 28: Healing ain't easy
Houston,Texas

Romani's POV:

The sound of Storm whining snapped me back to consciousness. My body felt heavy, like I'd been hit by a truck. My head throbbed, and my mouth was dry as hell. I peeled my eyes open, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the blinds.

Storm pawed at my leg, his big brown eyes full of concern. "I'm good, boy," I muttered, my voice hoarse.

But I wasn't. My chest felt tight, and my mind was racing. I sat up slowly, my body protesting with every movement. The empty pill bottle on the nightstand stared back at me, a silent reminder of the night before.

"The fuck am I doin'?" I whispered, running a hand down my face.

Storm barked softly, nudging my arm. He was always the one steady thing in my life, never judging, just there.

"Aight, I hear you," I said, standing up and rubbing his head. "Let's get outta here for a bit big boy."

I grabbed Storm's leash and headed out. The fresh air was what I needed. We walked through the neighborhood, Storm pulling me along like he was on a mission.

As we passed a park, I sat down on a bench, letting Storm sniff around. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a missed FaceTime call from Alazhá.

My stomach twisted. I wanted to call her back, but what would I even say? How do you tell someone you're not okay without scaring them off?

I tapped her name, hesitating for a moment before hitting the call button.

She answered on the second ring, her face filling the screen. She was sitting outside somewhere, her skin glowing in the sunlight.

"Finally," she said, raising an eyebrow. "You been ghostin' me or what?"

"Nah, nothin' like that bae," I said, forcing a smile. "Just had a lot on my mind."

"You good baby?" she asked, her tone softening.

"Yeah, I'm straight," I lied. "What about you? Bali still treatin' you good?"

"It's been a vibe," she said, smiling. "But I'm ready to come back. I miss home. Miss certain people, too."

My chest tightened. "Yeah? Who you missin'?"

She rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. "You already know."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You stay playin', but I hear you. Can't wait to see you when you get back."

"Same," she said, her eyes searching mine. "Take care of yourself, Romani. For real."

"I will," I promised, even though I wasn't sure how.

After the call, I decided to hit the gym. I needed to get out of my head, and lifting weights always helped.

I blasted music in my midnight AirPod maxes, letting the bass drown out my thoughts. By the time I was done, my body was sore, but my mind was clearer.

Back at my apartment, I took a long shower, letting the water wash away the remnants of the night before. Standing in the steam, I made a decision.

I couldn't keep running from my pain. If I wanted a future with Alazhá or with anyone i had to face my past.

Later that night, I sat on the couch with Storm at my feet. My phone felt heavy in my hand as I scrolled through my contacts.

I hesitated before dialing the number. When the voice on the other end picked up, I almost hung up.

"Romani? you straight , brudda?"

It was my cousin, Ahmazi. He'd been through his own struggles and had come out the other side stronger.

"I need help," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

There was a pause, and then he said, "Alright. Let's talk."

Meanwhile, in Bali (Alazhá's POV)

Alazhá sat by the pool, scrolling through her phone. Something about Romani's vibe during their call didn't sit right with her. He looked tired, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"You good, boo?" Mariah asked, lounging next to her.

"Yeah," Alazhá said, slipping her phone into her bag. "Just thinkin' about stuff."

"Romani?" Mariah guessed, smirking.

Alazhá nodded. "I don't know. He seemed... off. Like somethin's botherin' him."

"Then check on him," Mariah said. "Y'all supposed to be building something, right? Don't just sit here worrying."

"You right," Alazhá said, standing up. "I'll call him again later. For now, let's enjoy this view."

As she walked back to the villa, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The next day, Romani met up with his cousin ahmazi at a quiet brunch spot. They sat in a corner booth, the hum of conversation and clinking cups filling the air.

Ahmazi leaned forward, his expression serious. "What's goin' on, cuz? You don't usually hit me up like this."

Romani hesitated, running a hand over his face. "I been strugglin', man. With everything. My pops, my past, even my future. I feel like I'm stuck, and I don't know how to get out."

Ahmazi nodded, listening intently. "First of all, I'm proud of you for even sayin' that. Admitting you need help is the hardest part."

They talked for hours, Romani opening up in a way he hadn't before. By the end of it, he felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his chest.

"I'm here for you always, twin," Ahmazi said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Whatever you need, we'll figure it out together."

As Romani drove home, the sun setting in the distance, he felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long time. He wasn't fixed, but he was ready to start the journey.

And he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to let his past define his future.