Team Family (Richonne)

Ch 35: Mom

Carl's P.O.V

"And this one is Michelle," Jay laughed, handing me his notebook.

I smiled and took his book from his hands. I don't mind looking at  what he writes-- because he just wants someone to read.

On the page, he drew Michonne. He wasn't a very good drawer but you could kinda tell it was her without a hint or clue. Yeah, drawing is not his thing-- but the small poem under the drawing.. that was the gold.

I know a woman,
Oh yes I do
Some may even call her a shrew,
But just between me and you--

Michonne's a beautiful mess
and none the less.

I looked at him as he fiddled with his braids, he was so intelligent and so brave, yet he doesn't even realize.

"I'm so sick and tired of living my life stuck in this prison cell. Someday I'm gonna be free." He murmured

You're free buddy. Sooner than I would've guessed, sooner than I wished.

"Carl why are you staring at me like that?" He laughed "You homo."

I didn't realize I was staring at him so intensely, until he broke me of my thought.

"Don't you ever wish we could turn back time, to the good ole days-- when our mamas sang us to sleep and we weren't so stressed out?" I asked

Jay nodded his head slowly and turned to me, "Nope. Cause then I would've never met you-- and Michelle and Rick. Y'all good people yo."

Can't argue with that logic.

"I got so much history in my head, the ones that I've left, the ones that I've kept." He said

Jay spoke like he was a poet, a poet in distress.

"So,  Jay, tell me.. What are your biggest pet peeves and all of the things that make you feel at ease?" I asked

He sighed and rubbed his hands together, "pet peeves.. uh, none really...OH WAIT, I ABSOLUTELY HATE WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY WON'T LEAVE YOU AND THEN THEY DO! It's happened to me more than I can remember."

When people say they won't leave you, huh?

there was a moment of silence, where we both just stared at the ground. I have so much  to say to him,while I still have him here with me--- but how do I find the words?

"I won't leave you, will you leave me?" I murmured

"Nope, you're stuck with me until the gates of heaven open up... if there even is one." He said

That was nice to hear. That he'll be with me, until the gates of heaven open up.

My face began frowning up, and I couldn't control the tears that were about to roll down my face.

In the corner of my eye, Jay stared at me held his fist out to mine.

The first day I ever saw Jaden cry was probably the sixth night he slept over my house. It wasn't his home at the time, he was just sleeping with us until we found a place for him to stay.. but yeah, he woke up in the middle of night, screaming for help, and being the light sleeper that I am, I shook him from his slumber.
He almost slapped me, but that's okay because I saved him from a near death experience in his dream.
When I woke him, his eyes were full of tears and he could barely breathe. I didn't question anything at the time, I just hugged him.
I hadn't hugged anyone in a while that night, so It was pretty awkward. I pulled away and instead I gave him a fist bump, and when our fists touched, I didn't feel weird and I didn't feel awkward. I felt like I knew that it spoke louder than words.