A Soft Devil (COMPLETED)

Chapter 56

Our jaws dropped. Lina's having a baby! That's the last thing we expected her to say. Everybody was speechless, but a good kind of speechless. The kind where all you can do is cheer because words have yet to express how you feel.

They smiled as we clapped for them. They came back down the stairs

"How far along are you?" Lily asked when she came back down the stairs.

"Five weeks. That's why I haven't been drinking, and I'm wearing less. Gotta fit into my clothes before I can't anymore."

"Girl I'll be designing your maternity clothes before you ever step into those ugly ass ones," Lily told her.

Lina kissed her cheek. "You always got my back."
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I got a call the next day saying my story had been published in the daily short story collection online. Apparently it was one of the biggest collection of short stories online that nearly every writing company reads. I didn't care about the amount of views it got, the money, or if it got noticed. All I cared about is how it was out there. My heart was there for others to read. It was a vulnerable act, but it was one I was willing to take.

After the call, I walked down to the subway station in Manhattan despite the snow, and used my subway pass I haven't used in over eight months, around the time I met Grayson. I used the subway to land in Brooklyn, and once I get off, I found my feet taking me to my parents. The cemetery that had my parents buried. When I got there, I walked towards their tombstones. I kneeled in the snow when I saw their names.

"Hey mama. Hey daddy," I said as they were side by side. "It's been a while since I've been here because you both know I usually can't walk outta here without tears. But today's a new day, a better day, so here I am. I'll catch you up on Matt's life first. He's doing good. A lot better than when I first saw him behind bars. He's gained his weight back, and he says he's gonna start lifting again to gain back muscle. He's going to the schooling and counseling they offer in the prison, and reading a lot more books. Tryin get a college education in a prison, but you know how he's always made somethin work for him. Only twenty eight more years then he's out, or maybe he'll get off on good behavior, but I doubt it. You know the sayin, cops protect their own, and they sure as hell were livid when Matt shot him, but you also know the saying Karma's a bitch," I laughed after that only to hear it echo.
I cleared my throat before I went on. "I've been doin good, great actually. I have a boyfriend now. His name's Grayson. He's a boxer. He's real good for me. I'm always happy, and my best when I'm with him. We kinda have the same backgrounds with drug addicted family members, bein from the hood, and lost loved ones. It's funny tho because he said he was a fan of Biggie, but I had to show him what was up daddy. I put him onto Pac, and now he can't stop listening to him or any other west coast artist. I think you would like him."
"But I published my first book today by your favorite writer mama. Ms. Heart. I told her about you two and Matt. After she heard my past and read my book, she said it deserves to be published. She reminds me of you mama. I think if you guys were to meet, you would be good friends. I'm still working though in between Starbucks and stripping, but it'll soon come to an end because I'm moving to Philly with Grayson for his boxing career. Fuckin Philly. That shows how much I love him though."

After I spoke, I stayed silent. The wind was hitting me hard, and the wetness from the snow was soaking through my pants making my knees wet. I hugged myself tighter when the wind picked up. I knew I had to get out of the cold before I got sick.

"I miss you guys more and more everyday, but it makes my love grow stronger for the two of you. I just wish you guys were here to see me get better and do better. For once in my life, I feel like everything's coming together. I feel like everything that happened in my life was meant to happen for the happiness I'm experiencing right now. I love the both of you more than my heart has room for, but that only means it'll never run out. This is a see you soon as always, maybe a little longer than most times, but I'll be back. I'll always come back. I love you mama. I love you daddy."