Joy & Difficulty.

Parade

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III

New Years, 1986

I laid there with my head against his bare chest. We'd been up the whole morning having sex. The birds were beginning to chirp and the sky was lighting up.

We were both wide awake and he was going on about how his family, John in particular treated him as a child. His father, John Lewis Nelson that is. I just listened not really knowing what to say whenever Prince brought his dad up it was a touchy subject.

There was love there and I knew it.

"I wasn't even his son then, that's  how you treat your son, by kicking him out of the house." He paused "Now..." He laughed. "Oh, now it's a total different story. I'm his first born now." He mocked his dad's raspy voice.

I listened but didn't speak. For fear of saying the wrong thing.

"Joy, you awake'?" He asked trying to bend down to see my face.

"Yup."

"Oh, well I wish you'd say something."

"I don't know what to say."

"Just something. You never talk when I go over this stuff with you."

"Baby...I'm sorry."

"I don't need a 'sorry' I need you to listen."

"I am."

He sighed aloud, resuming his light stroking of my back.

"Ok, well I need you to speak on it." He complained, before sighing. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked.

"For putting you in this. I know you don't feel like dealing with my issues on top of yours."

Sometimes he could be a bit of an emotional wreck.

"Don't apologize for that." I said letting my fingers fall down his abs. "...and I don't have a lot of issues." I joked.

"I'm glad that you want to talk about that stuff with me. I don't ever want it to get like it was a few years back." I said.

I was referring to the stint of depression he went through a few years back. It happened while the Controversy album was a new release. Even though we weren't together at the time it still hurt to see my friend in such a rut.

"I may not say a lot but trust me I hear everything that your saying."

"Thanks."

"I know you forgave him, right?"

"Yeah, a long time ago."

"...and it still hurts huh?"

He got quiet for awhile and the only sounds heard was our flesh rubbing against one another.

"Yeah."

"Have y'all ever tried to talk about it?"

"The one time I tried bringing it up he didn't want to hear it."

"When was this?"

"My 21st birthday party."

"Prince." I said tilting my gaze up at him. "Six years ago...?"

"Yeah, but if he didn't want to talk about it then he still won't now."

"At least try again though." I said scooting up to kiss his cheek. "That's only if you want to, if it'll make you feel better."

He chuckled and kissed my lips. "When did you become my therapist."

I shrugged. "Whenever you need one."

"Oh, well that's all the time."

"I guess" I said, playing with his manhood under the cover.

I don't know what was wrong with me but I loved fondling him. Yes, I might have a problem.

"Really?" He arched a brow, referring to what I was doing.

"Yup." I laughed, bringing the sheets up to my smile to cover my embarrassment.

"I'm so tired baby."

"Then go to sleep and stop harassing me." He joked, grabbing my hand under the cover before he got any harder.

"Ain't you had enough for the day?" He laughed and pecked my forehead.

"I don't know, but I am sleepy."

"Get some sleep Joy. I ain't going nowhere and neither are you." He paused. I had already closed my eyes.

"...and I thought I was addicted." I heard him sigh, getting out of bed.
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I woke up to the sound of Prince's living room component set booming. His narcissistic ass was playing himself, figures. I laughed mentally as the words filled my ears.

You got to not talk dirty, baby

If you wanna impress me

You can't be too flirty, mama

I know how to undress me

I want to be your fantasy

Maybe you could be mine

You just leave it all up to me

We could have a good time

I left the bedroom to find Prince butt naked on the sofa with a purple popsicle.

"You had to find the purple one huh?" I laughed taking a seat beside him.

"You know it." He smirked. "Why are you dressed?"

"Because that's kind of what people do. You know, wear clothes."

"You won't need those clothes much longer."

"Says who?"

"Me."

I must warn y'all Joy is a damn freak.-Brittney

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2016 ©Britt808