Finding Happiness

Chapter 4: Gone

Jada
The next day, I woke up and stretched as I got out of bed. I could hear the calming sounds of the world outside my bedroom window. After handling my daily hygiene I went into the guest room to check on August.

I slowly opened the door and peeked inside to see him sitting on the bed staring at the wall. His lips were moving but no words were coming out.

"Good morning hun, Are you hungry?" I asked walking into his room.

He looked at me and nodded his head before putting his hand in mine and following me into the kitchen. I sat him down in the kitchen chair just as the phone started ringing. I walked over to it and took a deep breath before answering it.

Hello?

Hey Jada, Is August there?

Yeah, but he's kinda busy at the moment.

When he's done tell him to give me a call.

Sean?

Yeah?

Do you... never mind. I'll tell him to call you, bye.

I hung up the phone and looked at August as he pulled me closer to him. The doorbell rang and I let out a sigh of relief as he went to answer it.

I stood in the kitchen debating with myself about what I was going to cook. August came back into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

I made a quick breakfast and set the plate of food down in front of him. I poured him a cup of orange juice and did the same for myself. We ate in silence for a while until August opened his mouth and spoke.

"I didn't mean to scare you last night." He said taking my hand in his.

"It's ok." I replied pulling away to put my plate in the sink.

"No...it's not ok."

I turned around and stared at him.

"Will you calm down? It's really not that serious."

"You probably hate me."

It was clear that August was in his feelings about something I took a deep breath and looked at him.

"I don't hate you. Now come give me a hug."

August stood and made his way towards me. I wrapped one arm around him as best as I could and gave him a side hug.

We stood like that in silence for a moment until I cleared my throat and spoke.

"Jada I think we should go our separate ways."

"What do you mean?" I asked pulling away from him.

"I can tell that this whole thing is starting to be too much for you. So I think that I should leave."

"And where would you go?"

"To Atlanta. That's where I wanted to go before my brother got killed."

"And what about the kids?"

"I think it's best if they stay with you. I'll send you money for them but, I don't want them living with me."

August
Jada looked at me for a moment before walking out of the kitchen and into the laundry room with an attitude.

"If you didn't want them around then why did you get me pregnant in the first place?"

"It's not that I don't want them, it's just...they're safer with you."

"Nobody is safe when I'm around."

"That's not true, even after the kids were born they were safe until I started living with y'all."

"I don't understand where all of this is coming from."

"I have some issues and it's safer for everybody if I just leave and never see you guys again."

Jada stopped folding laundry and looked at me. The look in her eyes told me that she cared about me, even after everything that I had put her through.

"I've put you and the kids through enough already."

Jada stared at me with a blank expression on her face for a moment before walking out of the room. I heard the door to her bedroom slam. A few moments later I heard the shower running so I went into my room and started watching TV.

I pulled out my phone and called my boy, DJ, he answered on the third ring.

Hello?

Hey man, you still live in ATL?

Yeah why?

Can I stay with you for a few?

Yeah but I'm not home right now, I'm actually in LA.

Word? Me too. Can you come get me?

Sure.

Aight bye.

I hung up the phone and went into the living room just in time to see Jada walk out the front door slamming the door behind her.

I went back into my room and grabbed a large duffel bag out the closet and began filling it with the few belongings that I had.

Omniscient
After a few hours, Jada had gotten her thoughts together and was on her way home.

She parked her car and noticed that August's car was still there. She sat in her car for a few minutes mentally preparing herself for what waited for her.

She got out her car and walked up to the front door. She unlocked the door and went inside. The house was unusually quiet, Jada walked towards August's room and knocked on the door.

No response.

She knocked again.

Still no response.

She reached out and grabbed the door knob and turned it slowly pushing the door open.

Meanwhile...
August took one last look at Justice and Aj as they slept peacefully. He kissed their foreheads before walking out of their hospital room.

"You good boss?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Now take me to the airport."

"You got it."