"Daddy, why momma leave?" little 5 year old Aniyla asked.
I put the juice down on the counter, and looked at her. She was drawing little pictures of the two of us. My heart was breaking. I could only imagine her pain if I told her her mother was a no good hoe, who was doped up on drugs and slept around.
"Momma just on a vacation. " I said, looking at her.
"For how long?" she asked.
"A long time." I answered. She looked down at her pictures, before looking up at me, standing up on the chair to get to my level.
"Promise me something." she said, picking up her pinky finger. "Don't go on a vacation without me, ok?" she asked.
I lifted my pinky and wrapped it around hers. "Ok, I promise. " I said, looking at her.
She smiled one of her toothy smiles. "I promise too." she said, before sitting down drinking the juice I gave her, like I said, she's my life.