Nyla (Urban)

Nyla 16

Malakai

Pops walked up behind me as I gazed in the full length mirror.

Everything was black.

My suit, the tie, the atmosphere in the room. Pops was wearing a suit similar to mine accept his tie was dark blue.

He looked at me, "Are you ready?"

I didnt answer, just shoved my hands in my pockets.

"Well when you are, the cab is downstairs. We're leaving in five." He left without saying anything else. My father had yet to really talk about what had happened, but it didn't surprise me. I suspected I got my aloofness and calm nature from him.

My mind began wandering again and I thought back to just a few weeks earlier.

I took the stairs two at a time to reach my apartment, growing anxious. Jaylon wouldn't explain what was up, but as soon as he had said it was momma I had grabbed my shit and rushed over.

She was back.

She had to be for all the hype that I sensed was going on. I finally reached my door and practically tore the handle off.

When I got to the living room Jaylon was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. Pops was standing beside him and across from them was a shorter man.

I spoke before I could stop myself, "Where's momma?"

Pops looked like he was struggling with the right words to say but the man spoke up, "You gotta be Malakai. Man, your momma told me you was a big man but I never would've guessed."

"Where is she?" I repeated, staring him down.

"Son, I think you better sit down." Said pops.

I grit my teeth but sat down anyway, beside Jaylon. The man across from me wasn't smiling anymore. Actually, he looked nervous as all hell.

"My name is Jamar Greer." He started off.

"I don't care." I said bluntly.

He cleared his throat, "I was married to your mother."

My eyebrows squeezed together, "'was?' What you mean 'was?' Do you mean before pops?"

"No Malakai. I mean before she passed away just last year. It took me a while to find you, your mother was a very private person as far as her past life goes. I just thought you should have the right to know. We didn't want to have a memorial service without you boys."

In that moment I only saw red.

"What the fuck?"

"Malakai." Pops said in a stern voice.

"Ain't shit you can say to me to make me believe this shit is ok! This nigga knew where my motherfuckin' momma was all this damn time, he motherfuckin' knew about us!"

I was standing now. Pops ground his teeth together, "Malakai sit down. This man is not responsible for your momma's decision."

Jaylon kept his mouth shut, but looked as equally pissed. I hadn't thought that he'd remember her that well, he was only around seven when she left.

"Nah, fuck that! You don't even give a fuck huh? That's probably why she fucking left us in the first place."

I didn't even wait for a response, just left the house, slamming the door behind me. I didn't go downstairs for fear of what I might do.

Instead, I punched the wall by the door several times until my fist were sore, and then even more until they bled.

The ring on my chain burned a hole in my chest...

I made sure my chain was tucked into my shirt and walked downstairs. I hadn't gone to school in the past two weeks, but my head wasn't in it. Instead I stayed in my room all day, mainly ready and making note of certain books.

I climbed in the cab silently alongside Jaylon. Everything was quiet on the way to the funeral, the silence lasting even when we made our way inside the church.

Jamar was at the front of the church. I was tall enough as to where I could see two curly haired twins beside him. They were both girls, couldn't have been older than six.

I clenched my fist, my blood getting hot all over again.

"Are those-"

"Momma's kids." Mumbled Jaylon. I shook my head but my attention was immediately captured by the picture at the front.

It had to be her.

Same short wavy hair, chocolate brown eyes, and smooth mocha complexion. I kept my eyes trained on the photo by her casket until it was time to be seated.

I looked over at Jamar to see him already staring at us. He managed a
barely there smile and looked at the picture of my mother sadly.

There were tons of people that I didn't recognize and as many of them came up to tell stories about her I found myself growing more and more hurt.

After the service he came up to me with a folded piece of paper.

"Your mother wanted you to have this."

I glared at him and took it cautiously, opening it with care so I didn't tear the paper.

Malakai,

First and foremost, I love you. You and your brother, never think otherwise. I wish I could've lived to see you grow into the amazing young man I know that you are. A lot of things have happened, things that I wish I'd gotten the chance to tell you. There wasn't a time I didn't think about you and I can't count how many times I tried to get my babies back. Take care of Jaylon, and remember I love you.

Love,
Momma

I lifted my eyes off the paper and across the church to look at pops. He was standing in front of the altar staring at the picture they had placed of my mother.

I calmly made my way over to him, turning him around and punching him straight in his shit.

There was a gasp and suddenly I was on top of my father, wailing his ass with my fist before anyone could further react. My fist was connecting with his face over and over again. It took five people to get me off of him, But not before pops got me good one time in my nose.

"You a fuckin liar!" I yelled while they were holding me back.

"Let him go." He barely managed.

I snatched myself away from the people who were holding me back and got the hell out there.

People stared at me as I made me way to the bus stop. I caught sight of my face in a car window and realized my nose was bleeding heavily.

I wiped it with the sleeve of my jacket and ran to catch the bus, pulling out my metro card out of my wallet.

This book is more than half way through! Stay tuned plz babes ❤️. (Vote, comment, etc.)