A New Way

twenty-four | robyn

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Miami International Airport. Local time is 9:45am and the temperature is 78F.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about."

About 5 minutes later, we were boarding off the plane. The fresh smell of Miami was heaven sent. I started to tear up. I didn't realize how much I missed it here. It was so beautiful. The beautiful skyscrapers. The gorgeous green trees swaying from side to side. The glamorous, shiny, blue beach splashing and rolling on shore, and the beautiful sun kissed people. I really missed this place.

I started walking to the near by bus stop. Sitting down I waited, thinking of what my parents would say or react once they've seen their long lost daughter.

Would they disown me?
Would they tell me to leave and that I couldn't stay?

I was so in thought I didn't realize that the bus stopped right in front of me. I stood up and climbed up the 3 steps and put my 1.50 in the slit. Finding a seat in the farthest corner in the back, I sat down looking out the window. I couldn't believe that I made it back here.

I still remembered my parents address even after 4 years. 10 minute drive around the beautiful city and I finally pulled the string to indicate to the bus driver that this was my stop. I grabbed my bag and stepped off the bus, looking around at my old neighborhood. It still looked the same, from how I left it. I walked further into the neighborhood, and spotted the same brown, garden filled, 2 story house I used to sleep, eat, and do everything in. I felt a tear drop stream down my cheek.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't knock on the door. I couldn't face my parents, I just couldn't. I was a wuss then and I'm a wuss now. But where would I go? I didn't have anywhere to go but here.

My legs started moving on its own, but my mind wasn't processing anything. All I knew was that my hand was in a fist and was about to knock on the door until the door opened by itself.

"Ro-robby?" the caramel skin toned lady whispered. Tears started streaming out of her eyes, and she devoured me with kisses and hugged me so tight that I almost couldn't breathe, and I melted in her arms and let my own tears go.

"Hey mama."

"My baby, my beautiful precious baby, come on baby, let's get you inside."

She got the bag of my belongings and brung them inside. She went into the kitchen, while I was looking around. It was still the same as how I left it, and the smell. It was the smell of vanilla and cinnamon. The same scent of Matthew's house, which brought back unwanted memories i did not need right now. But I couldn't help the fact that I missed him.

She came back with my favorite. Brownies with whipped cream on top, and a glass of milk.

"When we done talking here, I'm finna whoop ya ass." The way she was looking, I knew she was serious and that scared me. Even though I'm 28 now, I was still afraid of that death glare she always gave.

I explained everything to her. From my relationship with Andre, to when I met Matthew. I also explained to her what happened between me an him, and I was only missing one thing to tell. The reason why I was back in Florida.

"I'm so sorry baby, I should have tried harder to keep you here." She said tearing up. I got up and sat next to her, rubbing her back

"It's not your fault ma, it was my decision to leave and because of my choices, these things happened to me."

"Weren't you the one that always told me ever since I was little that everything that happens in life, happens for a reason? That God will bless me with better and bigger things? Ma I'm fine, I'm here now and that's all that matters." I gave her a comforting hug, preparing myself to tell her the news.

"But ma I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

I started to bite on my lip and play with my fingers.

"I know you not finna tell me that you need to tell me something and start doing this baby nervous mess, you better open ya mouth and speak na."

"I-im,"

"You pregnant?" I couldn't say anything but nod my head

"Giiirl I already knew." Sha said
smiling

"Bu-but how?"

"I'm your mother, I know everything about you baby. Plus the way ya nose, breast, hips, and booty getting fat, giiiiiirl." I shook my head. Se was just too much

"Thank you mama." She looked confused

"For what?"

"For accepting me back in your life."

"Now I ain't neva said yu was back, once I give you this ass whoopin that's when you accepted back in the family." She got up from her seat and started walking up to her room. Next thing I heard was clang clang clang. Man she couldn't be serious. I got up so fast, that I almost fell, and ran to the patio.

"Ma, you can't be serious, I'm 28 years old, I ain't no child!"

"Ha that's what you think, now get ya fast ass over here. Run off to New York with some thug and come back pregnant by a white boy, lawd what's wrong with this generation."