Do or Die

01.

//Chris

The moon peeked through the dark curtains of the bedroom causing my eyes to flutter open. I rolled over to my side, looking at the alarm clock. The red numbers read 2:30 A.M. I sat up and ran my hands down my face, sighing heavily. My head was pounding and I was just wishing I could go back to sleep. Hearing her stir some in her sleep, I glanced back at Zonnique. She was sleeping peacefully with Carter cuddled close to her. I smiled to myself then kissed the top of both of their heads before getting up off of the bed. Walking into the kitchen, I went to flick on the lights and wasn't surprised to see that they didn't come on.

I cursed under my breath, scratching my head. I wouldn't have any money until maybe the end of the week if things went right. I know Zo wouldn't have any money because all her money was tied up into the rent and Carter's daycare. My head started pounding harder and I knew then I needed to take something. I searched the cabinets for a Tylenol, finally finding one in the last cabinet. I filled a glass with water and swallowed the two pills. Finishing off the glass of water, I looked up to see Zonnique coming down the hallway with Carter still asleep on her shoulder. She went to turn on the lights just as I did and an irritated sigh left her lips when nothing happened.

I shrugged my shoulders and watched her as she attempted to fix Carter a bottle in the dark. I could tell she was struggling making the bottle and trying to keep from waking Carter, so I gently took Carter from her and rocked her. Her little face scrunched up some and then finally softened again once she was comfortable. Zo finished making her bottle a couple of minutes later and took her back from me.

"What time you gotta go to work today?" I asked her, leaning against the table.

"8." She answered. "Why?"

"Just asking." I shrugged. "Lil mama going to daycare?"

"She has to, I'm not leaving her here with you." She rolled her eyes. "You know that Chris."

"She's my daughter too Zonnique. You act like I put her in danger or something when I have her."

She looked at me like I had said something stupid and huffed, leaving the kitchen. I followed behind her, wanting to know exactly why she had looked at me like that. When we got into the room, Carter had started fussing and not taking her bottle.

"She obviously ain't hungry." I mumbled, laying back on the bed.

"Shut the fuck up." She snapped. "She won't take her bottle because she's still sleepy. I know what's wrong with my kid."

"OUR kid." I corrected her. "And what was that shit in the kitchen? Whenever she's with me, she's never in danger. EVER."

"Oh please." She sighed. "The last time you kept her, I came home to you and your immature ass friends drinking and smoking around her."

"She was sleep!" I yelled.

"I don't give a fuck Chris! What if you would've gotten too high or drunk to hear her crying when she needed something!?" She yelled back. "You're too immature to keep her alone!"

"I'm a grown ass man and I know how to take care of my kid." I turned to my side and looked at the wall.

"A grown ass man with an immature mind." She smacked her teeth.