Tremaine.
I plopped down on Alysia's semi-comfortable plush couch and began to roll up my grape flavored cigarillo without saying a word. She and my brother both stared at me like I was crazy. They knew I was bringing Megan home from the hospital, so I'm sure they were wondering why I wasn't with her, or why I didn't bring her with me.
As if reading my thoughts, Alysia spoke. "Uh." she started. "Not that I don't want you here, but why are you here and not with Megan?"
I didn't speak until I watched the flame from my lighter dance around in my eyes and smoke filled my lungs.
"She was going to have my baby." Was the first thing I thought to say. I was still processing it myself. My brother, Jermaine, who was standing behind the love seat where Alysia sat, looked up at me with apologetic understanding eyes. "But I think I fucked up." I sighed and passed the weed to Jermaine, who had sat down beside me.
"What did you do?" They both asked me in unison and I suddenly felt bad.
"I'm mad as hell at her." I spat before leaning back and resting my head on the back of the couch. "And she knows it."
"How could you be mad at her?" Alysia asked defensively. "Like she beat her own ass." She spat.
"Man, she put herself in that situation." I told her matching her tone. "She had to wait until she was in a hospital for a week and healing from a miscarriage to realize she should have left long before then."
"And you don't think she's mad enough at herself?" she rebutted, but I didn't respond.
"God has a way of showing you things that you can't seem to see for yourself." I told her.
Alysia opened her mouth to speak, but knew she couldn't argue wit my statement. I knew she was going to find something to argue with me about and I just didn't have the time for it. Yeah, I felt a little bad, but I wasn't about to let anyone make me out to be the bad guy.
Jermaine was unusually quiet as he sat next to me. I knew he probably felt bad because he knew everything that had happened with my daughter. He shook his head a little as he sat in deep though and I really wasn't in the mood for anyone taking pity on me. I rubbed my hands down my face to shake all of my negative thoughts and stood from the silent couch.
"I'll see y'all later." I informed before walking out of the apartment and soon out of the building and to my car.
•••
Megan.
I reluctantly stood in front of Alysia's apartment before lightly knocking on the olive colored wood. The door swung opened and she stood in front of me staring for a second.
"I thought you were mad at me." she whispered looking both sad and guilty. She hadn't visited me in the hospital at all and I could see that she felt bad about it.
"No, Trey told me that you guys found me that night and that you couldn't handle it. I understand. I can't say I wouldn't be the same way with you." I assured her. Truthfully, I was upset for a while. I needed her then, but I knew it was a lot for her. She looked at me as a younger sister and after telling me stories of her father's anger and abuse toward her mother, I knew it was a soft spot for her. Plus, I needed her now more than ever.
I walked inside and before I had the chance to sit, Alysia wrapped her arms around me. As if right on cue I broke down for the first time and she followed my lead. No words were spoken; none were needed as we embraced each other and cried. I took a deep breath and broke away before grabbing her hand and leading her to the couch.
