Unconditional Love

Smoke's Addiction

Early Friday Morning

We all got dressed, Benji came in our bedroom. He took a deep breath as he sat down on our bed. He looked at us

"i don't wanna see Smoke anymore." he says

"what happened?" i ask

"he's not the same, he's been having a lot of women around parties he keeps sniffing some white powder up his nose." he ans. Mar and i eyes widen

"he got mad at me, almost hit me when i got scared when he went to this bad neighborhood, so he can get that white stuff....i don't wanna see him anymore please don't let me go." He said as he begin to cry.

"we won't let that happened you don't have to see him anymore." Mar said as she came and held him in her arms.

Mar looked at me, saw the look in my eyes. I closed my eyes, was trying to keep myself calm.

After a long while we all was at mom's house. we told her what happened. than Benji gotten a text from Smoke

"ay, where are you?"

i took the cell and text

"at grandma's, she wanted to give me some new sneaks."

"alright be there in a few"

i gave Benji back his cell. Raphael and Jamie saw the look i have in my eyes.

Couple minutes later

Smoke pulled up in the driveway, Benji saw him from the window

"he's here." Benji said

i took my button down shirt off and head to the door.

"Koy...wait." Mar said, i ignore her as i left out the house.

Smoke got out his car, walked around he saw me, smile

"sup Ko..." before he could even finish my name i punched him dead in his face.

he swung at me, i ducked and punched him again. had knocked him to the ground, got on him and began beating on him.

"you fucking crazy, what is wrong with you Smoke." i yell, he was fighting me back.

Than i was pulled off by Jamie and Raphael, i was finna kill Smoke for what he did.

Jamie tighten his grip to keep me from breaking free, Raphael held Smoke back.

"you gonna stay away from my son!" i yell, grunting

Mar and mom came outside.

"yo son, fuck is you talking he's my boy." Smoke spat

"no he's mine, how could you do that in front of him, i knew i shouldn't have....you gonna stay away from him." i spat back

"what is wrong with you huh?" i asked shaking my head at him.

mom walked up and said "you are wrong and you know it, Smoke...you are not allow to see Benji anymore, you need to get help."

Benji came outside, he stood three feet away behind Mar.

"He's my son, you can't..." Smoke plead

"yes we can, you could've hurt him, you need to get help, til than don't bother Benji, if he wants to see you we'll let you know." Mom said

Smoke looked at us, than he saw Benji.

"Benji." he said with tears in his eyes. we turned and looked at him.

"Benji...please." Smoke said

Benji dropped his head, turned around and went in the house crying. Smoke gasp softly, he sniff softly and walked to his car, before he got in he looked back at the house, hoping to see Benji watching. he than looked at us

"take care of him." he said and got in his car and drove away.

we all sigh deeply, we went back in the house. Mar came out of the guest room.

"is he okay." i ask

wants to sleep, he's hurting." Mar ans

"speaking of hurt, you should get yo hand clean, Koy." Jamie said

i looked at my hand, was starting to feel the pain as i saw my knuckles were real bruised up. Mar took me to the bathroom, she begin cleaning my hand.

she wrapped it up.

"we should have him talk to someone about this." Mar suggested

"yea, I'll get on it, right now lets just take a breather." i said, i stood up and held Mar in my arms

i keep remembering the promise i made to Aaliyah, Benji's birth mom, Smoke's true love.

*Flashback*

four years ago

walked in Aaliyah's bedroom, sat down next to her on the bed. she stared at me.

"i need you to promise me something." she said

"what is it aunt?" i ask

"i know he's gonna go back on them cause i wont be there to keep him from doing so, i need you to promise me you'll help him, show him why he should quit." she said

i sigh as i turned my head, shaking my head no, "auntie, i..."

she cut me off as she said "i know what he did, he's still a good man, i asking you to do it cause you can see the good in him, you know how he feels."

i still wasn't looking at her. she grabbed a hold of my hand, grabbed my chin and had me look at her, staring into her eyes.

"promise me, you won't give up on him...promise me." she beg.

i exhale deeply and said "i promise, aunt...i promise."

she held me in her arms.

*Reality*

i stared at myself in the mirror with Mar's back turned, was remembering my promise i made to my aunt before she passed away. she knew i would keep my promise, i never break them. i sigh deeply and kissed the side of Mar's neck.

two days later

i got in the truck and drove on out to Smoke's.

saw him sitting on the steps of his home. i got out and walked up to him. stood there looking at him, with my hands in my pockets.

he stared at me, than he got up grabbed his bag and walked to my truck. we got in and rode on out.

we stayed quiet the whole three  hour ride. than i pulled up in front of a private rehab center. We got out and went inside, signed him in. he looked at me.

"remember what i said." i said, he nods his head. i turned and left on out the center. got in my truck and drove on out.

had stopped at the cemetery, walked to aunt Aaliyah's grave site, i kneel down place the sunflower on the grass in front of her headstone. i stared at it

"i'm trying real hard, aunt...i just keep remembering all those nights he hurt you when he was high, how he would just lash out...when Benji told us what Smoke was doing, i almost lost it, cause he did it in front of my son." i said i paused for a moment

"i'm mad that you made me this promise, but i'm gonna do it for you...i'm not gonna give up on him." i said, had kissed my hand and place it on her headstone 

i got up and left on out, had drove on over to mom's.