THE ONLY GIRL

Chapter Fourty Four

KREATIVE POV

I sat in my car in the jail parking lot, crying otp to Skylar.

"I can't believe this nigga just did me like that", I wiped my face.

"Girl it's probably cause of his other baby mama. These niggas ain't shit", she said and I remembered the screenshot she sent me. I forgot all about that. I cried even harder. My life is insane right now.

FRIDAY EVENING

KASH POV

Today was my mama awake and I ain't know if I wanted to even go fr. I haven't talked to my sister or none of my brothers since the accident. I even wigged out the night of and my girlfriend left me. I've been keeping my head up and still going to work because I have a son to feed. I can't go out like that.

I took a big shot of Don Julio before lighting the wood to get ready. I honestly wasn't ready for nun of this shit. Life hit a nigga so fast cuh. I had a baby, and I lost a baby. I lost Skylar. I almost lost my brother. And now my mama cuh. Almost like a Nigga can't catch a break.

2 HOURS LATER

I pulled up to the funeral home and sat in my car for a minute. I saw everybody's car here but Kreative. I know she's probably taking this shit the hardest. She loved her when we hated her. Now she's gone.

I took a deep breath before getting out of the car. I stood at the doors, staring at the casket. This shit feels like losing P all over again. Only 10 times worse. I don't even think Pops knows. We keep this from him, he might actually hold this one against us. Him and Ma Dukes were locked in back then. Then my mama got on drugs and my pops went to jail.

I picked my head up and saw all my siblings standing in front of me. Even Kreative. We all looked at each other like what to do next.

Kreative looked at me with her eyes watering. I put my head down. I hate seeing my baby sister cry. She opened her arms and began walking in and we all fell in. We just stood in a big group, crying.

"We're gonna be alright cuh", Dre said patting my back.

"Y'all ready?" The funeral home director came up and asked.

I took a deep breath. And nodded my head.

We walked in and she just looked like she was sleeping. She didn't feel dead. This shit felt like a dream. Shit don't even feel real.

"I can't cuh", I said walking out.

On my way out. I bumped into Skylar.

"My fault", I said and turned around to keep walking.

"No wait, Kash", she called out and I turned around.

"I'm sorry", she said.

"Don't apologize, mama, People die", I said nonchalantly.

She walked up to me.

"Don't do that. I know you. I know on the inside, this shit is eating you. You just lost the person who gave birth to you. If you ever need me, I'm here for you, okay?"

"Nah Ian tryna come in between you and your man. I'll be straight".

"Fuck him. You're the father of my son. I got you", she said.

"Thank you Sky, but I'm straight fr", I said walking out the my car and grabbing the bottle from under the seat.

TRE POV

We were walking outside the funeral home. Getting ready for tomorrow.

"Yo does pops know?" I asked breaking the silence.

Everybody just looked at each other.

"I'm not telling him", I said.

"Man hush that shit. We're all going to tell him together ", Dee said making us all stop in our tracks.

"Wait huh?" Kreative said as she continued to walk.

Me and Dre just looked at each other.

"You heard me. So tell Kash to meet us there. Ion wanna have to drag his ass didn't hear me", Dee said getting into his car.

POPS POV

I sat in the rec room playing cards with some old heads I used to work on the streets with.

"Don't cheat me now", Alvin said.

"Nigga ain't nobody cheating you. Play ya damn hand", I said and everybody laughed.

"Don't rush me bitch ima play".

Alvin used to work with my pops. He went down for killing the man who murdered my pops. He's been in here 25 years and is going to spend the rest of his life in this here. I don't wanna do that shit nigga. Alvin taught me every trick in the book when it came to the street. He was always around since I was a little boy.

"YOO SR, YOU GOT VISITORS", officer Hall said walking up to the table.

"My wife?", I asked hitting my cigarette. She doesn't ever come on Fridays.

"No sir, your children are here". He said.

"All of them?"

"Yes sir".

I put my cigarette out and followed the officer to the private visitation room.

"Wassup, what y'all doing here?" I asked walking into the room.

Nobody said anything.

Kreative has gotten so big. Looks like she's bout to pop any day now.

"Wassup Pumpkin, how baby girl doing?"
I said rubbing her stomach.

I took a step back and read the room. Something definitely was up.

"Where's yo mama at?", I asked.

A tear fell from Kreative's face.

"Look pops, there's something we need to tell you", Dee spoke up.

"Tell me then. Why y'all standing there with them long faces? What? Y'all done killed somebody? What is it this time"? I asked.

"It's Mama", Kreative mumbled.

"It's who, speak up babygirl".

" It's Ma, Pops. Somebody ran her over with their car", Dee said.

I took a step back.

"Nah man. Stop playing with me and go get yo damn mama and don't come back unless she's with you. It's some stuff I need to tell her".

"Pops, please. We wouldn't joke about this", Dre said.

My heart sank. But I knew I couldn't break in front of my kids. I gotta be strong for them. Be here for them. I gotta get outta here.