Natahalia's Song

Not Anymore

Chapter 23

        Anger swelled throughout Natahalia's body as she laid her eyes on her counselor, her sister's killer. "I trusted her." Natahalia said under her breath. Marísol laid in her brother's arms as she cried her eyes out. This woman took her daughter. This woman pretended to care about her daughters, this woman had much envy and jealousy all because of some immature boy.

           "And what is your plea?" The female judge asked Sabrina and her attorney. "Not guilty, your honor." Sabrina replied. "She's guilty, that bitch is guilty!" Natahalia's cousin, Johanna yelled out. Her tears slid down her face as she pointed at Sabrina. "Quiet! Quiet! Or you will be dismissed, ma'am." The judge ordered. Natahalia pulled her cousin down next to her and the session continued.

         Johanna lead Natahalia outside of the courthouse after the session ended. "I still can't believe it." Johanna mumbled, this was the worst thing to ever happen to the family. "It's even worse to think about every little thing Sabrina did to her." Natahalia mentioned. It disgusted Johanna to look and see drug dealers selling right across the street. It was sad to see kids couldn't even be at the park and have fun like they should.

        "You really wanna raise Nevaeh in this? What happened to wanting to be an athletic trainer?" Johanna questioned. "That dream died out years ago." Natahalia responded. Her mother could barely afford the house she's in now, how could Natahalia go to school? "I wanna leave so bad. I hate it here." Johanna embraced her cousin, but Johanna always has an idea.

~

             Nazir stepped quietly into the room as Nevaeh slept. "She's already asleep?" He asked. He wanted to see her today before he went out and did his typical "business." "What's your problem?" Nazir noticed Natahalia slight attitude and he wasn't wanting to deal with it. "I can't do this anymore." Natahalia went over to her closet and pulled out some of the things that Nazir gave her. "What do you mean? I've been here doing everything you ask Nat, I didn't just abandon you and Vaeh." "I know that, but you're still doing all the gang shit. I don't want me or my daughter getting caught up in some crossfire shit. I don't want this anymore."

       "What are you saying, Nat?" Nazir asked. He kinda knew what she meant, but he didn't want it to be true. "We're finished, we can just be friends and co parent Nevaeh." Nazir was in disbelief, he really wasn't prepared for this and he knew there was so much more Natahalia was planning to do.

~

           Marísol flipped through the magazine as the black beans cooked on the stove. This was something Natahalia would miss her mother's cooking. "Mom, I have to talk to you." Natahalia began. Marísol was all ears. She wasn't to confident in what she might be hearing.

        "I want to move to the suburbs." Natahalia revealed.

       "Hell no, you're staying." Marisol objected.

       "Mom, come on, I can't keep staying here, I have a daughter now. "

     "I'm not losing my other daughter."

      "You're going to lose all of us, I'm taking Nayla with me."

     "No way, you're staying. Besides who would you stay with?" "Johanna. Mom please, let me go. I want Nevaeh to have better options, better than mines."

         Marisol groaned. She wasn't going to lose her family like this, but maybe this was better. Marisol couldn't afford the suburb like that, but sending Natahalia and Nayla wouldn't be bad.